Grgich Hills Estate is one of Napa Valley’s historic wineries, which began almost 50 years ago with the late Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. Grgich was a part of the team at Chateau Montelena when that historic winery won the famous “Judgement of Paris” in 1976 for its 1973 Chardonnay, winning over some of the finest Burgundian Chardonnay wines produced at the time. Grgich began Grgich Hills with partner Austin Hills in 1977, and from there, he utilized his skills and palate for decades as the winemaker for his namesake property, passing away just last year at the age of 100.
Over the years, Grgich Hills Napa Valley Chardonnay has been served at the White House to Queen Elizabeth II and was named one of the best Chardonnay wines in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Today, 100% of Grgich Hills wines are estate-grown in vineyards that are certified organic and, as of 2023, Regenerative Organic Certified. The Chardonnay is crafted in the winery’s solar powered winery, the wine ferments in a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels and large foudres, in which it ages for 10 months, adding richness and complexity. Though the production includes oak, there is no malolactic fermentation, meaning the wine will have the texture the oak brings without the weighty richness that the additional fermentation method will bring. Instead, it maintains freshness, showing notes of lemon zest, lime leaf, ripe pear, tropical fruits, and a touch of crushed stone.