A Napa Valley legend and friend, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich, passed away at age 100 in December, 2023. Mike and Austin Hills (Hills Bros Coffee) founded Grgich-Hills Cellars in Rutherford, which became one of the area's most successful wineries.
He was part of the 'old guard' that helped make Napa Valley famous. Mike was the winemaker at historic Chateau Montelena (Calistoga) who produced the Chardonnay that won first place at the 1976 Judgement of Paris, launching Napa Valley to the world wine stage. (The other winner, was a 1973 cabernet sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, which topped the best of France in the now-famous blind tasting).
Mike was a philanthropist who helped launch "Roots of Peace," which eradicates landmines from conflict zones. He also built a winery in his native Croatia and helped that country re-develop their modern wine industry. #grgich, #Rutherford, #JudgementofParis
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