Grgić Winery
About winery
The family winery Grgić was founded in 1996 in Trstenik under the visionary leadership of legendary winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, his daughter Violet Grgich, and nephew Ivo Jeramaz. Their mission is to produce top-quality wines from traditional Croatian grape varieties, with a special focus on Pošip and Plavac Mali. Miljenko Grgich, a celebrated winemaker with extensive experience gained in Napa Valley, earned numerous awards and accolades, securing the winery’s status as a producer of world-class wines. His wines from Trstenik, particularly Pošip and Plavac Mali, have won multiple awards and are considered among the best Croatian wines. Miljenko Grgich gained worldwide fame on May 24, 1976, at the historic Paris wine tasting, known as the “Judgment of Paris.” At this event, his 1973 Chardonnay Chateau Montelena was named the best white wine, scoring the highest points despite strong competition from French wines. This success forever changed the perception of Californian wines and solidified Grgich’s position among the world’s top winemakers. In 1977, in partnership with Austin Hills, he founded Grgich Hills Winery (now Grgich Hills Estate Winery) in Napa Valley, where he championed organic and sustainable farming. Until 2018, Grgich led the winery before passing the leadership to his daughter Violet and nephew Ivo, who continue to carry out his vision. Miljenko Grgich was instrumental in discovering the genetic link between Zinfandel and Croatia’s Plavac Mali. After reading in Dr. Maleš’s book about the potential identicalness of these varieties, he initiated a DNA analysis at the University of California, Davis. Croatian scientists later confirmed that Zinfandel is genetically identical to Kaštela’s Crljenak, further enhancing Croatia’s reputation in the wine world. Miljenko Grgich passed away on December 13, 2023, at the age of 100, fulfilling his dream of living a century and leaving an indelible mark on the history of winemaking.
