Mike Grgich

Miljenko "Mike" Grgich (born April 1, 1923) is a Croatian-American winemaker in California. He was born into a winemaking family in the town of Desne on Croatia's coastal region of Dalmatia. He is notable for being the winemaker behind the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that bested several white Burgundy wines in the wine tasting event that became known as the Judgement of Paris. In recognition of his contributions to the wine industry, Grgich was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame on March 7, 2008.[2] The tribute came at the same time that Grgich was celebrating his 50th vintage of winemaking in the Napa Valley.

Mike Grgich
Born
Miljenko Grgich

(1923-04-01) April 1, 1923
Desne, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
Nationality
  • Croatian
  • American
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb
OccupationWinemaker
SpouseTatjana Grgich[1]
ChildrenViolet Grgich

History

Grgich attended the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, where he studied viticulture and enology. However, he learned about California and wanted to leave the then-Yugoslavia to become a winemaker there. In 1954, he left communist Yugoslavia for West Germany, obtaining a fellowship to study there. From there he emigrated to Canada and upon finally receiving a job offer from a winery in California, Grgich was able to go there.[3]

After working at a number of wineries in the Napa Valley — including Souverain Winery, Christian Brothers Cellars, Beaulieu Vineyard (working alongside André Tchelistcheff), and Robert Mondavi — Grgich became the winemaker and limited partner at Chateau Montelena. His 1973 vintage Chardonnay was selected to compete in the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, where it was ranked the number one white wine.[4] A dramatized version of the story is told in the 2008 film Bottle Shock which did not depict Grgich because "he did not want to be part of it."[5]

This success permitted Grgich (with business partner Austin Hills of Hills Brothers Coffee) to establish his own winery, Grgich Hills Cellar in Rutherford, California. The winery, which changed names to Grgich Hills Estate in 2006, owns 366 acres (148 ha) of vineyards and produces 70,000 cases of wine each year. Its very first vintage won the Great Chardonnay Showdown, with 221 competitors from countries around the world.

Grgich turned 100 on April 1, 2023.[6] He is famous for his dark blue beret, which reflects Grgich’s European roots, and is archived in the National Museum of American History.[7]

See also

References
  1. Legacy (September 17, 2020). "Tatjana Grgich". St. Helena Star. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  2. "Vintners Hall of Fame Inductees". Culinary Institute of America. 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  3. Grey, W. Blake (May 11, 2007). "The vintner who did it his way / Mike Grgich's storied journey from Yugoslavian bookkeeper to Napa Valley legend". San Francisco Chronicle.
  4. Intardonato, John (April 18, 2013). "At 90, Mike Grgich is an American wine icon". The Weekly Calistogan. Napa Valley Register. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013.
  5. Goldfarb, Alan (August 27, 2008). "Bottle Shocked: Uncorking the Real Gustavo Brambila". Appellation America. Online Wine Portal. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.
  6. "100th birthday of legendary Croatian-American winemaker Miljenko 'Mike' Grgich". Croatia Week. March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  7. "Beret". National Museum of American History. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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