Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first gained international recognition in the now-historic “Paris Tasting” of 1976, when a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and tasted an array of the storied white Burgundies of France along with a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley.

 

When their scores were tallied, Mike Grgich’s 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay emerged as the finest white wine in the world.

The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately catapulted Mike Grgich to a position as one of the world’s foremost winemakers.

The Paris Tasting served notice to the world that the California wine industry was on the move, and it laid the groundwork for the creation of Grgich Hills Cellar. Following his glorious showing in Paris, Mike met with Austin Hills and his sister, Mary Lee Strebl, both from the Hills Bros. Coffee family, and Grgich Hills vineyard was born. On Independence Day 1977, they gave birth to Grgich Hills.

It was the perfect pairing for a successful wine venture. Austin owned premium vineyards in Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley, and with his accomplished business background, he got the winery on solid financial ground. Mike, with his eternal quest to produce exceptional wines of the highest quality, set to making wines that quickly became Grgich signatures: the exceptional, richly complex Chardonnays that receive prizes delight wine lovers across America and throughout the world.

2004 Chardonnay, Napa Valley Estate Grown

This is the first vintage that our Chardonnay is estate grown, meaning we control everything from the vineyard to the bottle. The grapes were grown organically at our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, where the coolness allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity. We do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation. This preserves the wine’s crispness and acidity to balance its concentrated fruit. Our full-bodied, elegant Chardonnay has fresh aromas of acacia and citrus flowers, honey and a touch of mineral.