Grgich Hills Wine Dinner at Cafe Maxx

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich turns 90 years old on April 1, 2013! Join us as we help Mike celebrate his career as one of the world's top winemakers. Mike's 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the famous Paris Tasting that was the shot heard around the world in California wine making history as his wine blind tasted by European peers was picked as the best among the best when tasted alongside the great grand cru white burgundies of that time. After his victory in Paris, Mike sat down with Austin Hills and his sister, Mary Lee Strebl, from the Hills Bros. Coffee family, and on Independence Day 1977, they gave birth to Grgich Hills. It was an ideal partnership. Austin owned premium vineyards in Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley, and with his extensive background in business, he put the winery on its financial feet. Mike, with his fierce commitment to making wines of the highest quality, began producing what immediately became their signature wine: the exquisite, richly complex Chardonnays that win awards and delight wine lovers across America and throughout the world. Today Grgich Hills remain committed to making distinctive wines with quality, consistency and longevity. They are proud that world leaders such as Presidents Reagan and Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand chose their wines to serve at state dinners, but they are just as proud that every single day discriminating wine drinkers count on Grgich Hills to turn their own dinners into special occasions. They treat each of their six different wines as a special child, carefully nurturing their development and character. Their pride and joy is their Chardonnay, an elegant example of the varietal displaying rich flavors and exquisite balance. As a complement to the Chardonnay, they also produce a refreshingly crisp Fumé Blanc, a rich and spicy Zinfandel, a Cabernet Sauvignon with tremendous depth and complexity, a lush and richly fragrant Merlot, and a luscious dessert wine named “Violetta,” in honor of Mike's daughter, Violet. Now turning 90 years old, as of April 1st and still sporting his signature blue beret, Mike was inducted into the Vintner Hall of Fame in 2008 in honor of his many contributions to the wine industry. While many other Napa wineries pursue strategies of expansion, Mike, along with his daughter, Violet, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, prefer to stay small. Their aim, year after year, is to improve the quality of their vineyards and their wines, relying on Mike’s unique artistic and intuitive touch. This strategy continues to pay significant dividends. Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, they farm their five estate vineyards without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, rely on wild yeast fermentation and use their passion and the art of winemaking to handcraft food-friendly, balanced and elegant wines. Beginning with the 2003 vintage, all Grgich Hills wines were labeled “Estate Grown.” This guarantees a consistently superior level of quality and it means that Grgich Hills will always remain a shining symbol of prestige and good taste. In recognition of that important milestone, the winery changed its name in 2007 to Grgich Hills Estate. Join us as we help Mike celebrate on April 16th here at Cafe Maxx as chef Oliver Saucy will be making a special five course tasting menu to compliment the Grgich wines. The cost of this event is $95 + Tax + Gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463. Grgich Hills Wine Dinner at Cafe Maxx with special guest Frank Markovitch Tuesday, April 16th 7pm Pass Arounds Grgich Hills Fume Blanc 2010 Price: $24.75 Sale $21.78 Case $253 This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was made from grapes that were certified organic and Biodynamic at our cool American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, not far from the San Francisco Bay. The wine's crisp, elegant flavors of passion fruit, lemon grass and a hint of minerality at the end of the long finish Oysters on the half shell with green peppercorn mignonette Jumbo sea scallops with grapefruit salsa fresca Croissant crostini with St. Andre and chicken Shrimp toast with ginger & water chestnut First course Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2009 Price: $39.75 Sale $34.98 Case $405 Following the classic style that Miljenko “Mike Grgich” established when we began in 1977, the wine’s crisp, yet rich, flavors of tropical fruit, white peaches and hint of mineral Grilled hog snapper with star fruit and sun dried apricot quinoa, triple cream brie fondue and red watercress Second course Grgich Hills Merlot 2007 Price: $39.75 Sale $34.98 Case $405 This is a Cabernet lover's Merlot! Packed with flavors of cherries, blackberries and a hint of dried herbs on the finish, this wine's rich, complex mouthfeel Red wine cured & grilled Magret duck breast carpaccio, blueberry-currant glaze with walnut-raisin crostini Third course Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2009 Price: $57.75 Sale $50.82 Case $590 Our Yountville vineyard forms the heart of our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with our Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards rounding out the blend. This Cabernet is packed with rich aromas of black cherry, black licorice and a hint of roasted coffee. Its full body and smooth tannins Sun dried cherry Kobe beef meatloaf with sautéed foie gras, mascarpone mashed new potatoes cherry brandy & cabernet demi glaze Dessert Grgich Hills “La Violetta” 2009 Price: $87.00 Sale $76.56 Case $888 Aromas of baked pear, orange blossom honey and citrus are prominent and the wine has remarkable depth of flavors that linger in the mouth. Asian pear tart with ginger crème brulee sauce and vanilla ice cream The cost of this event is $100 + Tax + Gratuity, for reservations call 954-523-9463.