Mike Grgich
Encyclopedia
Mike Grgich 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. The tribute comes at the same time that Grgich is celebrating his 50th vintage of winemaking in the Napa Valley.
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 to 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.
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 for competition in the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, where it was ranked the number one white wine. A dramatized version of the story is told in the 2008 film Bottle Shock
. Bottle Shock does not mention Mike Grgich.
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.
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
in California. He was born into a winemaking family in the town of Desne
Desne
Desne is one of nine villages of the Municipality of Kula Norinska, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, of Croatia's Dalmatian coast.-Geography:The village lies in a valley partly encircled by the mountain ranges:* Rujnica , to the north...
on Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
's coastal region of Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. He is notable for being the winemaker behind the 1973 Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgement of Paris" wine competition. Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California under blind tasting...
Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
that bested several white Burgundy wines in the wine tasting
Wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
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
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
Vintner's Hall of Fame on March 7, 2008. The tribute comes at the same time that Grgich is celebrating his 50th vintage of winemaking in the Napa Valley.
History
He attended the University of ZagrebUniversity of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
Faculty of Agriculture, where he studied viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
and enology. However, he learned about California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and wanted to leave the then-Yugoslavia to become a winemaker there. In 1954, he left communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
Yugoslavia to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, obtaining a fellowship to study there. From there he emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and upon finally receiving a job offer from a winery in California, Grgich was able to go there.
After working at a number of wineries in the Napa Valley
Napa Valley AVA
Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States. Napa Valley is considered one of the top wine regions in the United States...
— including Souverain Winery, Christian Brothers Cellars, Beaulieu Vineyard
Beaulieu Vineyard
Beaulieu Vineyard is a vineyard near Rutherford, California, belonging to the appellation Rutherford AVA. It was established by Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande in 1900.-History:...
(working alongside André Tchelistcheff
André Tchelistcheff
André Tchelistcheff was America's most influential post-Prohibition winemaker. Tchelistcheff is most notable for his contributions toward defining the style of California's best wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon...
), and Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi
Robert Gerald Mondavi was a leading California vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. From an early period, Mondavi aggressively promoted labeling wines varietally rather than...
— Grgich became the winemaker and limited partner at Chateau Montelena. His 1973 vintage Chardonnay was selected for competition in the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, where it was ranked the number one white wine. A dramatized version of the story is told in the 2008 film Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock
Bottle Shock is a 2008 American comedy-drama film based on the 1976 wine competition termed the "Judgment of Paris", when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. It stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman and is directed by Randall Miller, who wrote the screenplay along...
. Bottle Shock does not mention Mike Grgich.
This success permitted Grgich (with business partner Austin Hills of Hills Brothers Coffee
Hills Brothers Coffee, Inc.
-History:The company has its origins with the sons of Austin Hills , who was born in Rockland, Maine, in 1823. Austin Hills' business in California was building clipper ships. His three sons were Austin Herbert Hills , Earnest Hills, and Reuben Wilmarth Hills I , although Earnest was involved in...
) 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
Great Chardonnay Showdown
The Great Chardonnay Showdown, held in the spring of 1980, was organized by Craig Goldwyn, the wine columnist for the Chicago Tribune newspaper and the founder of the Beverage Testing Institute, with help from three Chicago wine stores. A total of 221 Chardonnays from around the world were selected...
, with 221 competitors from countries around the world.
External links
- Grape Radio interview with Mike Grgich - Part 1 and Part 2
- California Winery Advisor Grgich Hills Estate
- Grgich Hills Estate