I thought about what to post on July 4th, Zinfandel as the "American" grape has been overdone, and its probably not true. After tossing out a number of ideas I decided to go with the story of a winery and family that has helped build and sustain the reputation of our domestic wines around the world, Grgich Hills. In 1976 in Paris at a now infamous tasting an all French panel awarded the top Chardonnay to Chateau Montelena 1973 over its French competitors. I don't know if there is any wine analogy today that can explain the sheer shock this caused. The winemaker for Montelena at the time was Mijenko "Mike" Grgich, propelling Mr. Grgich to reknown as one of the great winemakers of the world. Soon after Grgich sat down with Austin Hills of Hills Coffee and on Independence Day 1977 (see it all draws together) Grgich Hills Winery was born. It was a perfect partnership, Grgich winemaking skills and Hills owned prime Rutherford vineyards. Today Grgich Hills owns 366 acres of vineyard up and down the Napa Valley. Always commited to quality the winery is entirely Estate bottled and under the direction of Mike, Mike's daughter Violet and Mike's nephew and current winemaker Ivo Jeramez the vineyards have become certified organic and Demeter certified biodynamic. One of the most popular wines from Grgich Hills has been the Fume Blanc. The current vintage is 2009 and the wine is a product of a unique fermentation and aging process. 80% of the fruit is aged in large (900 gallon) Oak casks and the other 20% in small neutral oak barriques, allowing the clear expression of the fruit to come through with all the creamy texture of the oak but no harsh tannin to interfere with the delicate flavours and aromatics.
Mike Grgich Violet Grgich
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