2018 Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel Napa Valley 750 ml

Croatian immigrant Mike Grgich stepped into Napa Valley mythos in 1976 when he bested Domaine Leflaive, Joseph Drouhin, and other famous Burgundy producers at the Judgment of Paris. It was, in fact, an even more unlikely story than it seemed on its face. Born to a family of winemakers, Grgich had been told by a professor that a kind of vine-growing paradise existed far away on the west coast of America. Fleeing communism, he made it to California in 1958 with a single suitcase and $32 sewed into his shoe.

While many famous winemakers have gone corporate with their brands over the years, Grgich Hills has remained family-run. The wines are now crafted by Mike’s nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, who joined his uncle at Grgich Hills Estate in 1986. Jeramaz has always had a passion for organic and regenerative farming practices, and he’s committed to farming each of the five Grgich estate vineyards organically without pesticides or herbicides.

"At Grgich Hills, we grow grapes like my grandfather did, farming without chemicals and pesticides," he says. "Over the years, I’ve focused on working with the land. Through our natural farming, it’s been very rewarding to see the soil alive with healthier plants than under conventional farming. It allows the wines to be more authentic—more distinctive."

It’s only fitting that Grgich makes a fabulous Zinfandel: The grape also originally hails from Croatia. The 2018 comes from a vineyard above Calistoga, where the vines are between 19 and an incredible 130 years old! Organic farming helps make this wine pure and honest, and careful winemaking has kept the fruit fresh, red, and high-toned, not raisiny or overly jammy. Bravo, Mike and Ivo!