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UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

BOOK REVIEW: A Glass Full of Miracles

June 17, 2017 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

A Glass Full of Miracles is an inspiring autobiography written by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Vintner and Co-Owner of Napa Valley’s Grgich Hills Estate Winery.

Fleeing his native homeland of war-torn Communist Croatia in 1958, with only a stack of viticulture books, a wooden suitcase and his life savings of $32.00 sewed into the soles of his shoes, Grgich set off to America in search of a better life. His dream was to become a winemaker in the rugged Napa Valley.

While his journey was riddled with setbacks, Grgich always saw his “glass as half full” and would be showered with much good fortune and “miracles” along the way.

The book reads like a Hollywood script, with all the major Napa Valley players of the day ~ Noted 1960’s Winemakers Robert Mondavi, Andre Tchelistcheff, Lee Stewart, August Sebastiani, Joe Heitz, Lee Paschich and Jim Barrett were a few of the early working friendships formed.

Fast forward to 1972, where Grgich was now at the helm as the new winemaker for Chateau Montelena in Calistoga, at the north end of the Napa Valley.  Another “miracle” in Grgich’s life.  With the financial backing of Paschich and Barrett, Grgich outfitted the ghost winery with the necessary presses, crushers, hoppers, tanks, pumps and oak barrels and replanted the abandoned vineyards with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail, Wine A Bit Tagged With: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena, Gewürztraminer, Grgich Hills, Merlot, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel

Very Fond of Lafond Winery

June 26, 2013 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

The Sideways movie wine trip continues down the windy Santa Rosa Road about six miles outside of Buellton.  Fields of vines line the country road, dotted with a few farm houses, a few fruit stands…a few tractors pull out in front of  you.  Not a whole lot happening….

Santa Rita Hills AVA is five miles west of Buellton.
Santa Rita Hills AVA is five miles west of Buellton.

Welcome to the Santa Rita Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA), home to the finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in the Central Coast Wine Country!  The Santa Rita Hills  AVA was  established by the Bureau of American Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms as a sub wine growing area of the greater Santa Ynez AVA.

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Lafond Winery and Vineyards was the forerunner in the Santa Rita Hills AVA to bring Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Reisling and Syrah to the market.

What makes the Santa Rita Hills AVA so special is the proximity to the ocean (approximately five miles) and the position between the east and west mountain ranges of the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, which in effect, extend the growing season with the ebb and flow of the coastal fog combined with the sunny inland heat. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, picnic, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sideways movie, Syrah, Wine Tasting

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    To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

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