Wine lovers gravitate to great stories focusing on families with roots that dig deep into California’s soil, legends born out of risk, resilience, and evolution in the cellar. But every now and then, a chapter starts that feels just as exciting as anything written before. At Grgich Hills Estate, that chapter is Violet Grgich.
For years, I’ve admired the Grgich name — not just for its lineup of elegant and age-worthy wines, but for the very real humans and heart behind the label. Violet, daughter of legendary winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich (the “King of Chardonnay” who helped put California on the map at the historic Judgment of Paris), is the bridge between her family’s world-defining legacy and a brand-new era.
The Next Generation of Napa
Violet grew up among the vines, bottling wine alongside her father and learning that greatness in wine is achieved not just through tradition, but with a willingness to evolve. While she first attended university to pursue science, she was still actively involved in every aspect of the business. She eventually returned to Grgich Hills as CEO and Co-owner, inheriting both a famous last name and the responsibility to honor her roots while building her vision.
Her journey is deeply personal. Her father’s story of arriving in America with $32 sewn into his shoe is a family legend, but Violet has added her verse by focusing on regenerative farming, transparency, and championing authentic connections between land, team, and the customers who keep the Grgich story alive. She believes wine is more than a bottle on a table: It’s “part of a healthy, happy, and long life. Wine brings people together and makes them happy, which makes my job extraordinarily fulfilling”.
Rebranding: A Bold Step Forward
Grgich Hills has launched a bold rebranding—an evolution that honors its Croatian roots (look at the label for the Croatian Coat of Arms and the Hills’ family crest) while showcasing a streamlined, modern look meant to speak to new generations of wine drinkers. This started with the first bottle, a Grgich Hills Estate’s 2021 Paradise Block Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, which was a tribute to her father. Born from a very select block of the only Regenerative Organic Certified Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in Napa, it’s a special wine paying tribute to a great man.
But this decision was very strategic. Under Violet’s leadership, it’s been a process of holding onto core values as the Napa Valley landscape shifts under climate, market demands, and changing tastes. She leads by example, rooting decisions in the original Grgich ethos: “Do your best. Learn something new. Make a friend.”
Rooted in Tradition, Inspired by the Future
Sitting next to Violet, the conversation ranges from winemaking details and terroir to her passion for music (she holds a master’s in harpsichord) to championing women in wine leadership and fostering philanthropic work.
But always, the story is clear — she’s here to do more than manage a brand; she’s here to tell a bigger, better story about resilience, regeneration, and what it means for a Napa icon to remain both rooted and open to change.
