Heidi Mulholland, Wine Educator at AWS 2025 (Photo by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc.)
Grgich Hills Estate, Grgić Vina and other wines enjoyed by passionate wine explorers
This weekend at the 2025 National Conference of the American Wine Society, taking place just outside of Washington, DC, there were two specific sessions that focused on Croatia, Croatian wines and the Croatian-American winemaking legend.
The American Wine Society is a national US organization of more than 6,000 passionate wine explorers consists of over 180 regional chapters across the United States, and its emphasis is on educating members to appreciate wine from across the globe through regional and national wine events, formal training and wine courses.
The session giving a portrait of the legendary Mike Grgich, titled “From Croatia to California and Back Again”, was presented by Heidi Mulholland, Wine Educator, Wines of the Times Consulting, who has spent time researching Mike’s life, his impact on both American and Croatian winemaking, and interviewing the president of Grgich Hills Estate, Violeta Grgich, Mike’s daughter who has been leading the winery for years.
“From a humble home in Desne, Neretva valley in Croatia to the hills of Napa Valley and back again, Mike Grgich’s story is cemented into the annals of American wine history, helping put Napa Valley and American wine on the world map,” said Mulholland who guided attendees through the history of a man whose desire to survive in faith and freedom led him to flee then Yugoslavia and make his way to Napa Valley where he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.
“Mike’s success included crafting the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won the Judgment of Paris. Yet, with all his accolades, he never forgot his beloved home country and after the collapse of Yugoslavia, he returned to Croatia and started a new winery, Grgić Vina,” added Mullholand. Based in Trstenik, a small town on Pelješac peninsula, Mike coached Croatian winemakers to focus on indigenous varieties. Leading by example, the winery produces Pošip and Plavac Mali.
In addition to well-researched story telling, Mullholand introduced attendees to wines from both Grgich Hills Estate, namely the Chardonnay and Zinfandel, and also to wines from Grgić Vina, specifically its famous Plavac Mali. A few additional wines from the region of Dalmatia were introduced to round out the background on the Zinfandel/Tribidrag/Crljenak origin as well as to juxtapose quality of Grgić Vina to other wineries, such as Rizman Winery’s Tribidrag and Black Island Winery’s Pošip.
Mirena Bagur, founder, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, and Heidi Mullholand, wine educator, pouring Croatian wines at the AWS National Conference (Photo by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc.)
“We are honored to be invited by the American Wine Society to represent Croatian wines where we showcase flavors of indigenous varieties from various regions and appellations, so that this knowledgeable group of wine enthusiast can witness the overall high quality of Croatia’s winemaking,” said Mirena Bagur, cofounder, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., the company that educates, distributes, and ships over 100 Croatian wine labels to most US States.
“It is not surprising than many leaders of local chapters asked us to conduct Croatian wine tasting in their chapters, and we are delighted to explore a way to educate all to by providing tasting notes, and wines, and potentially event conduct the tasting depending on the location.”
The 2025 national conference took place in Chantilly, VA, right next to the nation’s capitol, and gathered almost 600 members, with the program included almost 50 educational sessions as well as judging of the wines and grandtasting.
Members are largely wine consumers, but also amateur and professional winemakers; chefs, restaurateurs and foodies; educators and students; journalists; wine suppliers and wineries. At the Grandtasting event Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc. presented numerous wineries – from Slavonia (Ilok Cellars) to Dalmatia (Black Island Winery, Delmati, Matuško, Stina and Testament).
Welcome reception at 2025 National Conference (Photo courtesy of AWS)
The next national conference for the American Wine Society will take place in October 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. To become a member and find a local Chapter, visit American Wine Society.
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