"Miljenko Grgić" Award
A tribute to a visionary and an encouragement for the future of Dalmatian winemaking.
In January 2024, the Vino Dalmacije Association established the annual “Miljenko Grgić” Award - a recognition intended for individuals who, with their work, knowledge and vision, have contributed to the development and improvement of winemaking and viticulture in Dalmatia. The award bears the name of one of the most significant winemakers in Croatian and world history, a man whose legacy is intertwined with the most important moments of modern winemaking – Miljenko Grgić.
Miljenko Grgić, a visionary from Dalmatia who changed the world of wine
Born in the small Dalmatian town of Desne, Miljenko Grgić, known to the world as Mike Grgich, was a pioneer who turned dreams into reality. After moving to the United States, he gained world fame in 1976 when his Chateau Montelena Chardonnay triumphed over the best French wines at the famous Judgment of Paris. That historic moment turned the world's perception of wine upside down and changed the wine list forever, and Miljenko soon became a leading name in Californian winemaking.
However, Grgić never forgot his roots. Years later, he returned to Croatia and founded the Grgić Vina winery on Pelješac, transferring knowledge, experience, and modern enological techniques to his homeland. He was a mentor, donor, lecturer and inspiration – he awarded scholarships to young enology students, supported scientific research, and particularly distinguished himself through his participation in the Zinquest project, which led American scientists to the answer to the origin of the Zinfandel variety, i.e., the discovery that it was the Crljenak Kaštelanski grape, originating from Kaštel.
His life and work have left a profound mark – not only on the wine industry, but also on the way we think about success, identity, and responsibility towards the country we come from.
Award establishment
The “Miljenko Grgić” Award was awarded to him for the first time – posthumously, at a commemoration held on January 19, 2024, at the premises of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Split. It was an opportunity to mark his contribution not only with words and memory, but also with lasting recognition that will remind us of the greatness of his work year after year and serve as motivation for those who are creating the wine future of Dalmatia today.
The award was received by the Grgić Vina winery team from Pelješac, while prominent wine and academic experts spoke at the ceremony – Prof. Edi Maletić, PhD, Prof. Leo Gracin, PhD, famous winemakers Andro Tomić and Vedran Kiridžija, then the envoy of the President of the Croatian Parliament Ante Sanader and Mr. Ante Vuletin, who testified when Miljenko saw the surviving Crljenak vines in the vineyard in Kaštela and with how much enthusiasm he returned to America. The director of the Grgić winery from Pelješac, Krešimir Vučković, accepted the award and thanked both Miljenko for everything he had done and the Association for the honor. A documentary was also shown in which Grgić's American colleagues testify to his influence on world winemaking.
Criteria and award ceremony
The "Miljenko Grgić" Award is awarded annually, based on proposals from members of the Vino Dalmacije Association. Nominations are received at the end of the year, and the winner is selected by the Management Board.
The award ceremony takes place in March, as part of the Wine of Dalmatia Festival – the central event that brings together winemakers, sommeliers, distributors and wine enthusiasts. This makes the award not only an act of recognition, but also an important part of the annual calendar of Dalmatian winemaking.
The very appearance of the award was designed by academic sculptor Dragan Dužević. His work reflects a subtle synergy of tradition and modernity, in the spirit of the award itself and the person to whom it is dedicated.
A symbol of gratitude and a pledge of the future By establishing the "Miljenko Grgić" Award, the Vino Dalmacije Association seeks to pay tribute to the man who gave Croatian wine a global face, but also to encourage new generations to dream bravely, work dedicatedly, and create with love. Through this award, Grgić's legacy lives on, not only as history, but also as inspiration.
Because what Miljenko Grgić left behind is not just the chardonnay that conquered Paris, nor a winery on Pelješac, but a legacy that binds. The award that bears his name is there to remind us why roots are important, and how far we can go when we honor them.