In the picturesque town of Rutherford, California, a tale of triumph and transformation unfolds at Grgich Hills Estate. It’s a story that began half a century ago when an unassuming bottle of Chardonnay made waves in the world of wine. This bottle, crafted by a Croatian immigrant, not only captured the attention of the French but forever etched Napa Valley on the global wine map.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris, the vineyards of Grgich Hills Estate buzz with memories and pride. It was here in St. Helena that the legacy of this historic event continues to thrive, carrying forward the spirit of innovation and excellence that turned the wine world on its head.
Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, the mastermind behind this transformation, arrived in Napa Valley in 1958. With nothing more than a dream and a degree in viticulture and oenology, he journeyed from a humble Croatian village where wine was woven into the fabric of everyday life. “My father grew up actually stomping grapes and making wine,” recalls his daughter Violet, now leading the charge as President of Grgich Hills Estate. From his modest beginnings, Mike’s talent shone as he crafted the 1969 Cabernet that gained Robert Mondavi recognition, followed by the creation of the game-changing Chardonnay at Chateau Montelena.
The Judgment of Paris, as Violet recounts, was a serendipitous event with far-reaching impacts. Organized by wine merchant Steven Spurrier and his colleague Patricia Gallagher, this blind tasting was meant to celebrate the American Bicentennial. It pitted California wines against the elite French Burgundies and Bordeaux, with an all-French panel of judges. The unexpected result rocked the wine world when Mike’s Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap’s red wine emerged victorious. “The number one winner overall was the Chardonnay that my father made,” says Violet, a triumph that encouraged wine appreciation beyond special occasions, particularly on the West Coast.
In 1977, Mike Grgich founded Grgich Hills Estate, which has remained a family-owned gem ever since. The winery achieved regenerative organic certification in 2022, adhering to a philosophy of restraint and respect for the land. Today, Mike’s nephew, Winemaker and Vice President Ivo Jeramaz, continues this legacy. “We recognize there’s no great wine without great grapes,” he asserts. “Chemicals are not good for us, for nature, or for the quality of wine.” Their approach is one of simplicity and trust in nature: allowing the soil to flourish and letting nature take its course.
In 2023, Mike Grgich passed away at nearly 101 years old, still selling wine in his final week. He drank it just about every day of his life. “He’s one of the healthiest people we knew, and definitely one of the happiest,” Violet says with a smile. His founding spirit lives on in the estate’s ethos, and perhaps most purely in his own words: “If wine doesn’t bring nothing more, just the smile and the happiness of the people, I think it’s worthwhile to try.”
At Grgich Hills, they’re still trying. And the world is still smiling.
For more information, visit