Miljenko "Mike" Grgich was born in Desne, a little village in Croatia, the youngest of 11 children. Mike studied winemaking at the University of Zagreb but the communists were in charge and he wanted to go someplace where he could be free. Mike decided he wanted to make wine in California.

Lee Stewart, the owner of Souverain Cellars, gave Mike the job guarantee he needed to get a visa. Mike arrived in St. Helena in August 1958 with almost no money in his pocket but he was finally living his dream of becoming a winemaker in California. Starting at Souverain Cellars, Mike worked with some of the icons of Napa Valley: he joined Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers and then André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards, who was considered to be the dean of American winemakers.

He worked for Robert Mondavi when Robert left the Charles Krug Winery and started his own winery. In 1972, the owners of Chateau Montelena asked Mike to join them as winemaker and limited partner. This is where Mike first gained international recognition as the result of the celebrated "Paris Tasting" of 1976. At this now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges tasted an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and unknown Chardonnays from California. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen Mike's 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay the winner. The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.

The Paris Tasting served notice to the world that the California wine industry was creating world-class wines. The tasting had such an impact that on its 30th anniversary that the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA. on August 18, 2006 hosted a celebration of Mike's life and achievements. Governor Schwarzenegger recognized in a letter Mike's contributions to the California wine industry, the United States Congress passed a resolution recognizing Mike's role in winning the Paris Tasting, the California legislature passed a resolution honoring Mike's accomplishments and the Croatian Consulate in Los Angeles sent official congratulations on Mike's success.

Winning the Paris Tasting also allowed Mike to pursue his dream of owning his own winery. Over the years Grgich Hills has assembled a string of five stellar vineyards, totaling 366 acres, running the length of the Napa Valley. By having all of the wines estate grown, produced, and bottled, Mike and his winemaking team have total control over the entire process.

The vineyards and cellar are managed by Mike's nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, who also emigrated from Croatia, joining the winery in 1986. Ivo converted the vineyards to organic farming in 2003 and then introduced biodynamic farming in 2004. In 2006, all 366 acres were switched to biodynamic farming, making it the largest biodynamically farmed winery in the United States. Every acre is farmed naturally, with no artificial fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. Today, the winery remains committed to the art of winemaking, crafting wines with quality, consistency and longevity.

Family is a recurring theme at Grgich Hills. The winery remains family owned and operated, with Ivo overseeing production and Violet Grgich, Mike's daughter, responsible for sales and marketing. Familial care also extends to the wines: as Mike often says, "We treat our six different wines like special children, pouring our love and attention on them to nourish their character."

Recently, a third generation has joined Grgich Hills Estate: Noel Grgich, the one-year-old son of Violet Grgich and her husband, Colin Shipman, is already a favorite in the tasting room and at vintner dinners with his mother.

For more information visit us at 1829 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford, CA, 800-532-3057, www.grgich.com.