Grgich Hills celebrates 40 years in business: Weekly Calistogan Part 1

By Anne Ward Ernst.

First, they agreed to be partners, then they started their business, and when Miljenko “Mike” Grgich and Austin Hills put shovel to earth at their winery site in Rutherford, they had business at hand on their minds that included making great wine, not a 40-year anniversary celebration. And now they run one of the top wineries in Napa.

But on Saturday, July 1, celebrating 40 years in partnership is exactly what they did. Because they broke ground at their Rutherford located Grgich Hills Cellar winery – now called Grgich Hills Estate to recognize that all their wine is made from estate-grown grapes – on July 4, 1977, celebrating on or around the Fourth of July is significant to them. Becoming one of the top wineries in Napa meant a long journey.

Hills could also celebrate keeping a trim, youthful physique.

“I’m wearing the same shirt today that I wore then,” he said of the 1977 groundbreaking. Whether he was wearing the exact same shirt or one similar to it is not known.

The men and their families toasted one another before the party got rolling.

To Grgich, a Calistoga resident and immigrant from Croatia who came to America with little more than a dream, passion and drive-in his pockets – and maybe a few America dollars hidden away in a shoe — independence is mighty important. For decades the winery has celebrated Independence Day and the Croatian culture – the winery enjoys a loyal following by a large Sacramento-based Croatian community — by holding a party on the first Saturday nearest the Fourth of July.

Grgich Hills is proud to offer exceptional wine and to be known as one of the top wineries in Napa.

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