Croatian-American winemaker Miljenko Grgich was honored at a book signing event at the Smithsonian for helping California wines achieve worldwide fame.
Croatian-American Winemaker Grgich Honored at Smithsonian
WASHINGTON, October 18 – Croatian-American winemaker Miljenko Grgich was honored on Tuesday at the Smithsonian for his contribution in helping California wines achieve worldwide fame, changing the wine market forever. At a book signing by former Time magazine Paris correspondent George Taber, Grgich's now-historical role at the 1976 wine tasting in Paris was hailed as an extraordinary accomplishment, given that his California Chardonnay wine was judged as better than some of the very best French wines by a panel of nine French judges. Mr. Taber was the only journalist present at the event, whose significance he describes in his book Judgment of Paris. Speaking at the tasting at the Smithsonian, Mr. Grgich attributed his skill and talent in making wine to his parents, who introduced him to wines early on in his native Croatia, and to his colleagues in California, with whose help he was able to achieve success. Following the 1976 competition in Paris, Mr. Grgich opened the now-famous winery in California's Napa Valley, under the name Grgich Hills. Also honored at the event was wine maker Warren Winiarski, whose California Cabernet Sauvignon received very high marks at the time, as well. In honor of the wines and their producers, the Smithsonian will keep two bottles, which will be preserved due to their historical contribution for wine making in America.
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