[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MILJENKO ``MIKE'' GRGICH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Miljenko ``Mike'' Grgich on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Born in 
Croatia, Mr. Grgich studied winemaking and viticulture at the 
University of Zagreb before he left communist Croatia for the Napa 
Valley in 1958.
  In 1976 the Chardonnay that Mike made won the famed Paris Tasting. 
This victory shattered the myth that only French soil can produce 
world-class wines, and the victory pumped new energy into the 
California wine industry, particularly in the Napa Valley. Following 
Mike's lead, California vintners redoubled their efforts to make better 
wines each year.
  In honor of his contributions to the industry, Mike was inducted into 
the Vintners Hall of Fame on March 7, 2008, the same year the 
California State Fair presented Mike Grgich with its Lifetime 
Achievement Award.
  In 1977 Mr. Grgich launched Grgich Hills Winery, a stunning 
illustration of innovation in winemalcing. The winery converted to 
solar power in 2006, and today farms all of its 366 acres organically. 
Each of the wines that the vineyard produces is estate grown.
  Today Mr. Grgich is active in Roots of Peace, the international 
campaign to rid the world of land mines by changing the mines to vines. 
In 2007, Roots of Peace presented Mike with its Global Citizen Award 
for his leadership and unique contributions in raising landmine 
awareness around the globe.
  Mr. Grgich's winery donates to a number of organizations and it is a 
longtime supporter of the Auction Napa Valley, which raises money for 
local nonprofit organizations.
  Mr. Grgich is a legend of the Napa Valley and a champion of our 
community. Mr. Speaker, it is only appropriate that we honor Miljenko 
Ggrich's profound contributions to Napa Valley and the art of American 
winemaking

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