Miljenko Grgich was a native of Croatia who studied viticulture and enology at the University of Zagreb. He departed the communist country of Yugoslavia in 1954 settling in West Germany and Canada before emigrating to the US finding residence in California. Mike Grgich was an enologist for Robert Mondavi in 1968 responsible for the inaugural release of Robert Mondavi’s Fume´ Blanc.

In 1972 Mike became winemaker at Chateau Montelena crafting the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that took first place in the Judgement of Paris Tasting in 1976. In 1977 he founded Grgich Winery with Austin Hills in Napa Valley. Mike Grgrich passed in 2023 at the age of 100 years old. Winemaking has been under the guidance of Croatan born Ivo Jeramaz who came to the US in 1986 with help his uncle, Mike Grgich.

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc bottling is fermented with native yeasts in foudre barrels and aged for six months in neutral oak. This is a more classically styled Sauvignon Blanc with a pale hue that opens to a bouquet of delicate garden flowers and musk melon. The core is vibrant with notes of white nectarine, Bosc pear and lemongrass that are delicately wrapped in citrus acidity. There is plenty of purity and fresh fruit that lingers into a succulent finish.

By W Peter Hoyne