By Luke Jeramaz, Digital Marketing Manager · Published 9/9/2026
In short: Grgich Hills is one of the best places in Napa Valley to taste classic Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay side by side. Both are estate-grown and Regenerative Organic Certified, and both trace back to founder Mike Grgich — the winemaker behind the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Come taste the two wines that built our name, where they are grown in Rutherford and Napa Valley.
Fast Facts
- The two wines: our Napa Valley estate Chardonnay (2023) and Napa Valley estate Cabernet Sauvignon (2021).
- Chardonnay style: crisp, no malolactic fermentation — 94 pts (The Wine Palate), 93 pts (Decanter World Wine Awards).
- Cabernet style: elegant, structured, age-worthy — 95 pts (Decanter), 92 pts (James Suckling).
- Both are: estate-grown and Regenerative Organic Certified.
- Where: tasted together in Rutherford, on the Napa Valley floor.
What this guide covers: why tasting Cabernet and Chardonnay together is worthwhile, what each Grgich Hills wine tastes like, how they compare, and why our estate is the place to taste them.
People often come to Napa knowing they like “a big red” or “a crisp white,” and leave understanding why. Tasting our Chardonnay and Cabernet side by side is one of the clearest ways I know to show what estate-grown farming and classic winemaking in the cellar actually do. Here is what to expect from each and why this is the place to taste them.
Why taste Cabernet and Chardonnay side by side?
Because contrast teaches your palate. A crisp, mineral Chardonnay and a structured, dark-fruited Cabernet show two very different expressions of the same estate and philosophy — balance, freshness, and a sense of place.
Tasting them together makes each one clearer. You feel the Chardonnay’s acidity more after the Cabernet’s tannin, and the Cabernet’s depth more after the Chardonnay’s brightness.
What is the Grgich Hills Chardonnay like to taste?
Our Chardonnay is made without malolactic fermentation, which keeps it crisp and mineral-driven rather than buttery. Expect aromas of honey, ginger, and key lime, then a palate of fresh citrus, lime, and star fruit, with ginger, white pepper, and a crisp, long finish.
It is the wine that earned Mike Grgich the title “The King of Chardonnay” — and it earned 94 points from The Wine Palate and 93 from the Decanter World Wine Awards.
What is the Grgich Hills Cabernet like to taste?
Our Cabernet is built for elegance and structure rather than sheer weight. Expect black fruit — blackberry, black currant, black cherry — lifted by cardamom and nutmeg, with red berries, blood orange, and dried cranberry over bright acidity and vibrant tannins.
The 2021 vintage earned 95 points from Decanter and 92 from James Suckling. It is age-worthy enough to cellar for decades.
How do the two wines compare?
| Estate Chardonnay (2023) | Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (2021) | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Crisp, mineral, food-friendly | Elegant, structured, age-worthy |
| Signature | No malolactic fermentation | Balance over power |
| Tasting notes | Honey, key lime, citrus, white pepper | Black fruit, cardamom, red berries, bright acidity |
| Scores | 94 (The Wine Palate); 93 (Decanter WWA) | 95 (Decanter); 92 (James Suckling) |
| Farming | Estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified | Estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified |
Why is Grgich Hills the place to taste these two wines?
Because here you taste them where they are grown. Both wines come from our own Regenerative Organic Certified vineyards and carry the direct lineage of the man who put Napa Chardonnay on the world stage in 1976 at the Paris Tasting.
Other wineries pour good Cabernet and Chardonnay. Few let you taste both, estate-grown, at the home of a Judgment of Paris winemaker — with the vineyards right outside.
“When you taste our Chardonnay and Cabernet together, you are really tasting the same idea twice — let the land speak, and keep the wine in balance. That is the whole family philosophy in two glasses.”— Luke Jeramaz, Digital Marketing Manager at Grgich Hills Estate
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you taste both Napa Cabernet and Chardonnay?
Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford pours both its estate-grown Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in guided tastings, so you can experience both classic Napa styles in one visit.
What does the Grgich Hills Chardonnay taste like?
Crisp and mineral rather than buttery, with honey, key lime, citrus, and white pepper, and a long, crisp finish. It is made without malolactic fermentation.
What does the Grgich Hills Cabernet taste like?
Elegant and structured, with black fruit, cardamom and nutmeg, red berries and blood orange, bright acidity, and vibrant tannins. The 2021 scored 95 from Decanter and 92 from James Suckling.
Are the wines estate-grown and organic?
Yes. Both the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are 100% estate-grown and farmed to the Regenerative Organic Certified standard.
How do you book a tasting at Grgich Hills?
Reservations are recommended and can be booked at grgich.com, but walk-ins are always accommodated. The estate is in Rutherford, on the Napa Valley floor.
Taste both wines where they are grown
The best way to understand a Grgich Hills Chardonnay and Cabernet is to taste them side by side, at the estate that grows them. Reserve a tasting in Rutherford and experience both — the crisp and the structured, the white and the red, the whole family philosophy in two glasses.
About the author
Luke Jeramaz is the Digital Marketing Manager at Grgich Hills Estate in Napa and the son of winemaker Ivo Jeramaz.
