RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Born Miljenko Grgic on April 1,1923 to Ikva and Nikola Grgic in Desne, Croatia, "Mike" Grgich can point to his success as a celebrated, award-winning vintner as springing from his family's deep roots and experience in the family-owned small winery and vineyard on Croatia's Dalmatian coast; and
WHEREAS, In pursuit of his passion, Mr. Grgich attended business college before completing his education at the University of Zagreb, where he studied viticulture and enology, all in preparation for becoming a winemaker; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by stories of self-made Americans like Henry Ford, Mr. Grgich immigrated to the United States in 1958, and after working at a number of wineries in Napa Valley, including Souverain Winery and Christian Brothers Cellars, he moved to the Beaulieu Vineyard, where he worked with the legendary Russian winemaker, Andre Tchelistcheff. In 1972, Mr. Grgich joined Chateau Montelena as a winemaker and limited partner; and
WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. Grgich stunned the international wine community when his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the illustrious Paris Wine Tasting, beating the best wines from France and catapulting Napa Valley into the front ranks of leading wine-producing regions ofthe world; and
WHEREAS, After his spectacular success at the Paris Wine Tasting, Mr. Grgich was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning his own winery and, in 1977, he created Grgich Hills Cellar, which today comprises 366 acres spreading across five vineyards throughout Napa Valley and producing award-winning estate-grown wines; and
WHEREAS, During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Grgich, renowned for his passionate and relentless quest for quality, pioneered innovative techniques for winemaking that earned him many awards and recognition, including becoming a member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture in 1966, being inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2008, and being featured in a Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibit on food history which focused on American wine; and
WHEREAS, In 1980, Chicagoans and visitors from around the world gathered for an historic event, the Great Chicago Chardonnay Showdown, where 221 Chardonnays were brought together for the largest blind tasting ever held of wines made from a single varietal, and Grgich Hills Estate's 1977 Chardonnay emerged triumphant with the first-place ribbon; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the Great Chicago Chardonnay Showdown and its enduring influence around the world; and
WHEREAS, Turning 92 years old this year, Mr. Grgich, one of the world's greatest and most distinguished winemakers, continues to guide Grgich Hills Estate winery and plan for its future; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is proud to be a part of Mr. Grgich's and the Grgich Hills Estate's dynamic legacy; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fifteenth day of April, 2015, do hereby congratulate the Great Chicago