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{ SOMMjournal.com } 51 he moment we turned in the drive at Grgich Hills Estate on July 29, we knew we were in for a heck of a party. The folks at one of Napa Valley's iconic insti - tutions had something big to celebrate that day—the winery's 40th anniversary—and they rolled out the red carpet, literally. After valets whisked away our cars, a wine glass magically appeared in our hands as we were ushered through the festive red balloon archway. Rock and roll from the '70s provided the soundtrack as we strolled the winery grounds from one delicious wine and food station to the next; each Grgich Hills wine was thoughtfully paired with delectable bites prepared by SMOKE, the acclaimed Napa catering company. Before the crowd thickened, I met Austin Hills, whose partnership with winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich spurred the launch of Grgich Hills Estate back in 1977. (That was just one year after the infamous "Judgment of Paris" tasting, where the 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay made by Grgich at Chateau Montelena triumphed over French Grand Cru Burgundies. The tall, distinguished-looking Mr. Hills, meanwhile, hails from the founding family of Hills Bros. Coffee Company.) California State Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry would present a certificate fro the California tate Legislature to the two partners in recognition of their 40 years of "dedication to the craft of winemaking and . . . ongoing contribution to the Napa Valley community." As for how things have changed—or haven't—over the past 40 years, I got the skinny from Violet Grgich, Mike's daughter and Grgich Hill Estate's VP of Sales and Marketing. While I tasted the 2014 40th Anniversary Chardonnay and its pairing of hot smoked salmon on a bri - oche toast point with a bit of remoulade and watercress, Violet explained that stylistically the Chardonnays have remained true to form. he confired the current releases still ae as gracefully as they did in earlier vintages, adding that great white Burgundies, capable of aging for decades, have always served as role models for her father's Chardonnays. Violet Grgich and father Miljenko celebrate their winery's 40th year in Napa.