Grgich Hills Cellar
NileGuide Expert Says:
Best buttery Chardonnay with most colorful historyAddress:
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+1 800 532 3057Description:
Noted for its superb Chardonnays, this acclaimed winery was founded in 1977 by Yugoslavian wine maker Mike Grgich and businessman Austin Hills (of the Hills Brothers coffee dynasty). (Fun note: Grgich is the winemaker whose Chardonnay shocked the world by beating out French wines to take first place at the Paris blind tasting in 1976, an event immortalized in the movie Bottle Shock.)Today, Grgich Hills Cellar has 230 acres of vineyards in the Napa Valley and Carneros regions. In addition to the creamy, oaky Chardonnay, other prized wines include three releases earning four-star ratings from Wine Today: a crisp, fruity Fume Blanc, a full-bodied earthy Zinfandel and a vibrant, peachy late harvest dessert wine. The facilities aren't fancy, but an opportunity to sample the wine is worth the visit.
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