The Somm Journal

52 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 She also shared her father's secret to achieving that kind of longevity: eschewing malolactic fermentation altogether. "Malolactic lowers overall wine acidity," Violet explained. "Everyone thought that we should make French-style Chardonnay exactly in the same way that the French do, but our climate is different. They have more acid and less sugar; we have more sugar and less acid. To maintain balance, we don't use malo." "The 40th Anniversary is very much in the style of the 1977, but in 1977, we used all new barrels," she continued. "The 40th is only about 70 percent new oak. When I mention that to people they say, 'But this isn't oaky at all!' We still have that balance. The changes are very subtle. We still have crispness; we hae eleance and wonderful oral characteristics, and great minerality." Zinfandel is another Grgich Hills Estate signature wine. It's sourced from a vineyard near Calistoga that includes a parcel planted in 1889. "Dad had his eye on the vineyard since his Chateau Montelena days and was finally able to purchase it in ," iolet said. That acquisition was part of a long-term goal of replacing purchased fruit to 100-percent estate- grown grapes; Hills and Grgich checked that goal off the to-do list in 2003. Beyond the Ranch House patio where we stood talking, the expansive lawn was hospitably strewn with picnic tables, comfy conversation nooks and bean bag toss games. Century-old oak trees provided shade and, at the edge of the vineyard, the American and Croatian as waed side by side, frain the deep green Mayacamas mountainsides in the background. or ie rich, the as are personal sybols as much as they are national emblems. It took him four long years to reach America after escaping his native Croatia, then a segment of Communist Yugoslavia. All along, Mike was California dreamin': At the University of Zagreb where he studied winemaking, a professor told students California was a "paradise" where it was possible to make wine "any way you want" and where "the farmers all have tractors!" To honor the achievements of an immigrant who has put his indelible stamp on Napa Valley, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) recognized Mike as an honoree of the Fifth Congressional District American Dream Awards. Congressman Thompson, who insti - tuted the awards to publicize sinificant counity contributions made by immigrants in his district, mentioned Mike's efforts toward eradicating land mines in Croatia; as a Vietnam veteran wounded by a land mine, Congressman Thompson found this cause especially near to his heart. ies own hear t seeed to oerow as he accepted the awards and looked out over the crowd of people who'd come to help celebrate 40 years of beautiful Napa Valley winemaking. "I'm just happy to be a par t of Napa Valley," he said. "Here! Here!" we cheered. Congressman Mike Thompson presents Mike Grgich with the American Dream Award. A trio in Croatian costume.

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