Grgich Hills

The Croatian-American oenologist and winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich (1923-2023) is considered an important pioneer of US viticulture and was already a legend during his lifetime. In recognition of his contribution to the wine industry, Grgić was inducted into the Hall of Fame of "The Culinary Institute of America" on 7 March 2008. He was also known as "the grand old man in the beret" because of his favourite headgear. His family owned a small winery in Desne Dalmatia. Grgich studied oenology at the University of Zagreb and emigrated to California in 1958.

He spent nine years at Beaulieu Vineyard as the main chemist responsible for quality control. During this time, together with the Russian oenologist André Tchelistcheff (1901-1994), he was also involved in the first malolactic fermentation experiments carried out in California. He also worked intensively with various yeasts and barrique ageing. Mike Grgich was one of the first winemakers to develop Zinfandel as a rose-coloured white wine called White Zinfandel. From 1968 to 1972, he worked at Mondavi and then at the Chateau Montelena winery as the responsible cellar master. At the latter, he created the 1973 Chardonnay, which won first place at the legendary Paris Wine Tasting in 1976 ahead of renowned wines from Burgundy and California.

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Grgich Hills

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