The mayor of Zagreb, Croatia, was in Rutherford Thursday to present Mike Grgich with a golden medal from the city, a rarely given award that recognized Grgich’s contributions to American-Croatian relations, his contributions to Croatia and the relationships he has built between the vintner’s land of birth and his adopted home.

 Born in Croatia, one of 11 children, Grgich studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Zagreb and left to escape communism. He eventually arrived in Napa Valley in August 1958, just in time for crush to begin. He has worked for some of the legends of Napa Valley: Lee Stewart, of the original Souverain Cellars; Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers; André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards; Robert Mondavi; and then Chateau Montelena, where the chardonnay he crafted won the famed 1976 Paris Tasting. On Independence Day, July 4th, 1977, Mike Grgich and Austin  Hills broke ground in Rutherford to build Grgich Hills Cellar. In 1996, Mike started Grgic Vina winery in Croatia, producing Plavac Mali, a red wine, and Posip, a white wine.

Grgich Hills Estate owns and organically and biodynamically farms 366 acres of estate vineyards in Napa Valley. It remains a family-run winery dedicated to the art of winemaking, with Grgich assisted by his daughter, Violet Grgich, who is vice president of operations, and his nephew, Ivo  Jeramaz, who is vice president of vineyards and production.

Two of Hungary’s top winemakers, Elizabeth and Miklos Pracser, will discuss Tokaji, Hungary’s most famous wine, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Silverado Vineyards. The event is free.

The two vintners, who began their professional wine careers in Tokaj more than 30 years ago, will speak about Tokaji and will discuss Tokaji’s history, its existence under Communism and its renaissance. An informal tasting of wines will follow.

The couple hold different jobs within the Tokaj wine industry. Since 1989, Elizabeth has been winemaker and manager of the family’s 40-acre estate, Elizabeth Cellar. Miklos has been general manager of Degenfeld Estate, one of Tokaj’s most prestigious estate wineries, since 1994. The couple’s daughter, Hajnalka Pracser, is in the U.S. as an intern with Foster’s Wine Estates Americas.

Seats are available for the talk on a reservation-only basis. To make reservations, call Michelle Jackson at Silverado Vineyards 257-1770, ext. 3, or e-mail to mjackson@silveradovineyards.com. Include your name, phone number and number of people attending. Silverado Vineyards is at 6121 Silverado Trail, Napa.

One of the highlights of next weekend’s L’Chaim celebration featuring Jewish vintners and winemakers in Napa Valley will be the open houses on Saturday.

In last week’s report on the event, one open house was inadvertently omitted.

Hagafen Cellars, which will be closed on Saturday because of the Sabbath, will be open to L’Chaim attendees on Sunday following the closing brunch, and will pour the Hagafen brand, along with two other unique brands, Don Ernesto Vineyards and Prix Vineyards.

All three wines will also be poured at the walk-around tasting that will precede the Saturday night dinner.

Hagafen Cellars is at 4160 Silverado Trail, Napa.

Registrations are being accepted for the 2007 Wine Industry Technology Symposium July 17 at the Meritage Resort. A general session will be followed by breakout session for people in trade sales, direct consumer sales, operations and finance and management. There will also be a technology showcase from sponsors. The registration fee is $375 per person before June 30, and $425 after that. Multiple attendees from the same company can register for $325 each. Info, www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com or 261-8716.

About 375 wine enthusiasts participated in what was billed as “The Ultimate Blind Date, Wine Country Style” last weekend as they tried to identify wines in a paper bag and win their very own cabernet sauvignon grape vine.

The blind tasting was a highlight of a an event sponsored by Appellation St. Helena at Flora Springs Winery, with 33 vintner members pouring their best wines.

Wines were tasted in two flights of five each, and as more than 140 guests tasted them, they were asked to identify the varietal, vintage and producer. Two correct answers with all three elements correctly identified were required to win a grape vine, and 32 people successfully passed the test.

At the end of the day, Jennifer Bearse of San Francisco won three cases of St. Helena Appellation wines when her name was pulled in a drawing from among all who entered the blind tasting, whether they won or not.

As a sign of the continually growing popularity of rosé wines, Ronn Wiegand, MW and MS, will lead a class on rosés, both still and sparkling, from California, Australia, Argentina and Europe, Tuesday, 6:30-9 p.m. at St. Supery Vineyards.

The class is under the auspices of Napa Valley College. Cost is $60 per person. Register at www.napavalley.edu/apps/pub.asp?Q=80, at 253-3070 or 967-2900, ext. 1301 or 1302.

Wiegand, who publishes Restaurant Wine, is one of only two people in the U.S. to hold both Master of Wine and Master Sommelier designations.

Submit items for Toast of the Valley to On Wine editor Sasha Paulsen, spaulsen@napanews.com