Grgich Hills Estate
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Paradise Block Old Vine"
Yountville AVA
Auction 26 | Lot No. 34
Vintage: 2020
Grgich Hills Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Your wine, sourced from vines planted in 1959, is an homage to Mike Grgich’s dream of Paradise
- The best fruit from a small block was used to express this wine’s depth of flavor and sense of terroir
- Aging in French oak barrels, this balanced, elegant wine can be enjoyed soon or aged for decades
- Committed to organic and regenerative farming, we hope that this wine transports you to Napa Valley
Description
When Mike Grgich was a student at the University of Zagreb, his professor once whispered to him that Napa Valley was “Paradise.” Inspired by these words, Mike eventually found his way to the valley to follow his dream. After many attempts, Mike was able to purchase our Yountville vineyard that was planted to the second-oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Napa Valley, back in 1959.
This wine is an homage to Mike’s dream of “Paradise.” We use only the best fruit from a very small block to craft a special Cabernet Sauvignon that offers a depth of flavor and sense of terroir that can only be achieved through a deep root system, hard work and determination. Aging in French oak barrels, this balanced and elegant wine can be enjoyed soon or aged for decades to come.
Wine Facts
- Wine is unfiltered
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Organically produced (also commonly called "organically grown")
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
- Wine is produced in a Napa Green winery
Ivo Jeramaz
Winemaker, Grgich Hills Estate
Ivo was born in Croatia to a family of grape growers, and, as a boy, he assisted in making wine for his family's enjoyment. However, he didn't plan on becoming a winemaker. Ivo earned a Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of Zagreb and dreamed of coming to California to work as an engineer. In 1986, with the help of his uncle, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich, Ivo followed his dream and came to Napa Valley. He quickly fell in love with the scenic beauty of the area and became fascinated with wine making. Ivo decided on a career change, and Mike immediately put him to work washing barrels.
During his almost three decades at Grgich Hills Estate, Ivo has worked his way up in responsibility, learning the classic style and art of winemaking from his uncle, supported by the tools of science and technology. "There's nothing in the winery or vineyard that I haven't done, not just for one day, but really worked at it," he explains. While he has taken enology and viticulture courses at the University of California, Davis, he says, "I've learned more working in the vineyards and in the winery with Mike."
Under the guidance of his uncle, Ivo is now responsible for the day-to-day operations in the cellar and the vineyard, including naturally farming Grgich Hills Estate's 366 acres without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.
"At Grgich Hills Estate, we grow grapes like my grandfather did, farming without chemicals and pesticides," Ivo says. "Mike taught me early in my career that you need great grapes to make great wine. Over the years, I've focused on working with the land. Through our natural farming, it's been very rewarding to seeing the soil alive with healthier plants than under conventional farming. It allows the wines to be more authentic, more distinctive."
Country born: Croatia
Education: Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of Zagreb
Enology and viticulture courses at the University of California, Davis
Mentored by his uncle, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Mike Grgich taught me early in my career that you need great grapes to make great wine. Over the years, I've focused on working with the land. Through our natural farming, it's been very rewarding to seeing the soil alive with healthier plants than under conventional farming. It allows the wines to be more authentic, more distinctive.
Underground Cellar
1166 Commerce Boulevard Suite D
American Canyon CA 94503
503-855-7368
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Underground Cellar:
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| The Debate | 2021 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | 27 (2023) | |
| Tres Sabores | 2021 | Zinfandel | Rutherford | 27 (2023) | |
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| AXR Napa Valley | 2021 | Malbec | Napa Valley | 26 (2022) | |
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| Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2020 | Malbec | Calistoga | Kenefick Ranch | 26 (2022) |
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| Smith Devereux | 2019 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Nancy Adams Meritage | 26 (2022) |
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| Bell Wine Cellars | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Clone 7 Selection | 25 (2021) |
Winery Distribution
Grgich Hills Estate is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (International Wine & Spirits)
- Alaska (Specialty Imports )
- Arizona (Breakthru Beverage)
- Arkansas (Central Distributors, Inc)
- Colorado (Empire Distributors of Colorado, Inc)
- Connecticut (Brescome Barton/Worldwide Wines)
- Delaware (Breakthru Beverage)
- Florida (Johnson Brothers of Florida )
- Florida (Opici Family Distributing)
- Florida (Breakthru Beverage Florida )
- Georgia (RNDC Georgia)
- Georgia (National Distributing Company)
- Hawaii (Chambers & Chambers )
- Idaho (Idaho Wine Merchant )
- Idaho (TEC Distributing East)
- Idaho (TEC Distributing West (Twin Falls) )
- Illinois (Marketplace Selections)
- Illinois (H2Vino/Wine-O-Rama & Acme Wine Company)
- Indiana (Republic National Distributing Company)
- Iowa (Johnson Brothers of Iowa)
- Kansas (Standard Beverage )
- Kentucky (Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits)
- Louisiana (Wines Unlimited )
- Louisiana (Glazer’s Distributing )
- Maine (Pine State Beverage Co. )
- Maryland (Breakthru Beverage)
- Massachusetts (Classic Wine Imports )
- Michigan (Great Lakes Wine & Spirits)
- Minnesota (Johnson Brothers )
- Mississippi (Alcohol Beverage Control )
- Missouri (Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits)
- Montana (Gusto Distributing )
- Montana (Fun Beverage)
- Montana (Bronken’s Good Time Distributing)
- Montana (Summit Beverage )
- Nebraska (Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirit )
- Nevada (Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirit )
- New Hampshire (Martignetti Companies of New Hampshire)
- New Jersey (Allied Beverage)
- New Mexico (Bacchus Wine Patrol)
- New Mexico (Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits )
- New York (Wilson Daniels Wholesale)
- New York (Empire Distributing )
- North Carolina (American Beverage)
- North Dakota (Northwest Beverage)
- Ohio (Heidelberg Distributing (Cincinnati) )
- Ohio (Vintage Wine & Spirits (Columbus and Cleveland))
- Oklahoma (Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits)
- Oregon (Grape Expectations )
- Pennsylvania (Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits )
- Rhode Island (Horizon Beverage)
- South Carolina (Republic National Distributing Company )
- South Dakota (Republic National Distributing Company)
- Tennessee (Southern Glazer’s of Tennessee )
- Tennessee (Lipman Brothers)
- Tennessee (Knoxville Beverage )
- Texas (Dynamo Specialty Distributing Texas)
- Utah (Utah Liquor Control Board )
- Utah (Young’s Market of Utah)
- Vermont (Calmont Beverage Co., Inc. )
- Virginia (Select Wines, Inc. (north))
- Virginia (Breakthru Beverage (south) )
- Washington (Grape Expectations )
- West Virginia (The Country Vintner )
- Wisconsin (Breakthru Beverage)
- Wyoming (Wyoming Liquor Commission)
- Wyoming (Young’s Market Co. of Wyoming)
International:
- Bahamas (Bristol Wine and Spirits )
- Belgium (MaQuinze)
- Bermuda (Gosling's LTD)
- Canada - Alberta (Trialto)
- Canada - British Columbia (Vintage Corks)
- Canada - Manitoba (Trialto )
- Canada - New Brunswick (New Brunswick Liquor Corporation)
- Canada - Nova Scotia (Innovative Beverages)
- Canada - Ontario (Rogers & Company )
- Canada - Quebec (Noble Selection)
- Canada - Saskatchewan (Trialto)
- China (Evo Wine Group)
- Costa Rica (Hablas Bebidas)
- Croatia (Grgic Vina)
- Czech Republic (Californian Wines)
- Denmark (California Wine)
- Germany (Californian Wines)
- Hong Kong (Ponti Wine Cellars )
- India (Sansula)
- India (Dhall Food and Beverages PVT LTD)
- Ireland (Findlater)
- Japan (Wine In Style)
- Luxembourg (MaQuinze)
- Mexico (The Wine Co. )
- Netherlands (MaQuinze)
- New Zealand (Planet Wine)
- Norway (Vinetum)
- Philippines (Wine Club Worldwide)
- Puerto Rico (Plaza Provision)
- Russia (Eurazia)
- Scotland (Awin Barratt Siegel )
- Singapore (Excaliber Wines)
- South Korea (Nara Cellars )
- Sweden (Jakobsson & Soderstrom )
- Switzerland (Putzi's Weinresidenz)
- Tahiti (Pacific Beverage Co. )
- Taiwan (Prowine)
- Thailand (California Pacific Wines)
- United Arab Emirates (Harts International )
- United Kingdom (Awin Barratt Siegel)