By Rick Riozza
Perhaps everyone in the wine world knows of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. The long time Napa Valley winemaker and part time La Quinta resident was the “hero” of the Judgment of Paris in 1976—where Mike’s California Chardonnay was deemed the “finest white wine” by a panel of French judges scoring over their own French wine for the first time in history. I refer to him as “our Champion winemaker”.
So things start like this: I’m off to enjoy the first of the wine-dinner series at Pinzimini Restaurant at the Westin Resort & Spa. Just as I was leaving the house, I receive a call from a wine distributor who had a bottle of JAM Cabernet Sauvignon for me to taste. We carry this wine at Pavilions but I had yet to try it.
The distributor lives in San Diego and was out and about in Palm Desert. So I’m thinking, why not have him simply leave the bottle for me over at 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro—that fun eatery that sells first class wine—and, I’d go by the next day and pick it up.
The Pinzimini wine dinner was an absolute hit, which I recently wrote of in these pages; and, I hope that article will prompt you to attend the next one. While enjoying the great Italian fare along with the great Italian wines of Marchesi De Frescobaldi, I sat alongside two ladies who were college roommates but were now enjoying a reunion of sorts at the resort.
Apparently I had let it slip out that I was a wine, food & tennis columnist, so they were all about me with interesting wine questions and they liked my lifestyle. They got me thinking that maybe I am a bit important, so I try to impress them further by suggesting they join me for lunch the next day to taste a wine that’s waiting for me at 3rd Corner. They appeared stoked at my offer.
It was a date that I was regretting come the next day at noon hour: Eating and drinking big time the night previous and working a busy morning stewarding at Pavilions—all I desired was to take a nap!
But I’m a man of commitment, and I drag myself over to the bistro with my game face on. I enter through the bar but I don’t see the women. I guess I was stood up—but I’m not bothered because I’ll have that wine all to myself. I quickly locate the sleek black bottle with red JAM written on it and a small note taped to it stating, “For Rick Reels”.
As I’m exiting the stylish bistro, I glance to my right and to my wonderful surprise, there sat Mike Grgich and his assistant Maria quietly enjoying lunch. I’ve covered Mike and his wines before and have met Maria at various tastings through the years, but it had been a while since I last saw them—perhaps two years?
Not wishing to disturb their lunch, I simply came over to the table to pay my respects. He is no less than wine royalty; mentioning his name alongside the likes of Robert Mondavi and Piero Antinori is correct and appropriate.
But Mr. Grgich and Maria were having none of my evanescence. They insisted I join them for lunch, Maria pouring me the delicious Grgich wine while Mike portioned me some of his Chicken Schnitzel. They were absolutely gracious and it was so nice to relax in their presence.
We caught up with each other’s lives and of course all things lead to talking of the fantastic life of enjoying food and wine. Wearing his iconic French beret, the famed winemaker, who is into his nineties, was happy to speak about his daughter, Violet, is who handling most of the affairs of the Napa Valley Grgich Hills Estate winery.
Indeed, Mike alerted me that, Violet and the winery’s assistant wine maker will be here in the desert to join the next Grgich winemaker dinner. I casually asked him where the dinner was being held, and Maria chirped in that they’re having it at the Westin. I blurted, “At Pinzimini?” They responded, “Yes—that’s right, Pinzimini.
How fortuitous! I told them I was scheduled to cover that dinner for CV Weekly—but had no idea yet of the wines to be featured. We all chuckled and toasted to “serendipity”. Mike and Maria then graced me with the pleasure of meeting with them in the near future to do an in-depth interview—something Mike rarely does these days.
We could have talked and quaffed the entire afternoon, but me being a working stiff again, I said my goodbyes, looking forward to our prospect interview soon.
The Grgich Hills Estate wine that will be served at the Pinzimini wine dinner is the 2012 Napa Valley Chardonnay and Fumé Blanc along with the 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The courses to be paired with these world class wines include Date & Apple Stuffed Quail; Pan Seared Mano De Leno Scallop; Point Reyes Blue Cheese Crusted New York Strip. Yum!
The last course will be a Trio of Artisan Cheeses to be paired with Grgich’s 2012 Late Harvest dessert wine, Violetta, named after his daughter. See you there!
Bon Appétit! & Cheers!
“Le Serate Di Vino” Grgich Hills Estate Wine Dinner $85 per person. March 26, 2015 6pm. Pinzimini Restaurant at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa: 71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 770-2150
