Winemaker Dinner with Mike Grgich

It's not too often you get to be in the presence of a living legend, let alone spend an evening sharing your craft with them. It's kind of like playing a round with Arnold Palmer, or going to the movies with Meryl Streep, I suppose. On Friday I got to live out a little bit of a life long dream - creating a wine dinner to highlight the wines of perhaps my biggest winemaking "crush", the incomparable Mike Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate. To me, he's like an 86 year old rockstar. I was honored and delighted to host him at the school for what was surely one of the most memorable nights of my career so far=)




Mike is a notorious flirt - I think he enjoyed being surrounded by all of us girls doting on him all night.




Here's Mike toasting with Katie and Maria, his lovely assistant.




On to the menu!

With the o8' Fume Blanc, we paired a Seared Diver Scallop, Curried Corn Pudding and Mango Buerre Blanc with Basil Oil. A light and delicious pairing that was accentuated by the nice acidity in the fume.





The 07' Napa Chardonnay was a daunting task - after all, Mr. Grgich is known for making perhaps the most famous Chardonnay EVER!! Lots of nice lemon undescores the oak here - so we went with a lemon infused dish, that turned out to be an excellent pairing.
Housemade Brie & Fresh Tarragon Ravioli with Lemon Infused Cream and Pine Nut Gremolata





Next up - a Grgich Library selection - Milejenko's Old Vine Zin 06'. Milejenko is Mike's Croatian name - and he likes to wax poetic about Zin - genetically proven to be a product of his native country! A no brainer pairing here for me after having tasted this ripe spicey zin - Star Anise & Clove Braised Lamb with Bacon & Blue Cheese Polenta, Cherry - Zin Reduction & Sauteed Sprout Leaves.

This was my favorite wine of the night - the 05' Napa Cab. Consequently this also resulted in the most successful pairing of the night - exquisite!!

Fliet Medalion with Gorgonzola Butter, Parsnip Puree and Leek & Wild Mushroom Melange

Oh boy - this one was a doozy too. Mike brought us his special 06' Violetta Late Harvest Riesling, which we paired with Vanilla Orange Scented French Toast "Cubes" with Peach Ameretto Gelee, Maple Mascarpone Cream and Praline Crumbs. Even the most full guests squeezed this one in - so incredible. I was so surprised at the acid in this dessert wine - I've never had such a balanced late harvest riesling. YUM



Mike & more ladies! We all got "pinned" that night - he brought us all Grgich Hills Estate pins to wear.

Graciously signing wine for everyone after dinner with his signature gold pen. He also brought me a signed copy of The Judgement of Paris - a book that recounts the true story of his role in the famous Paris Tasting of 1976.

What a remarkable evening we had. Can't wait to do it again next year!! Thanks to everyone at Grgich, Katie for all of your generous help, and all of our staff who did an amazing job as usual=)