Grgich Hills Winemaker Ivo Jeramaz Hosts Wine Dinner at Plaza Cafe

Plaza Cafe in Southampton is hosting a special dinner to taste and celebrate Grgich Hills wines on Tuesday. The event will be hosted by Grgich winemaker Ivo Jeramaz, nephew and protege of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, who gained international acclaim after his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (created in Napa, California) defeated all its European counterparts and was named as the finest white wine in the world in the famous blind “Paris Tasting” in 1976.

Grgich’s win, delivered by a panel of French judges, stunned the international wine establishment, put Napa on the map as a serious wine contender and immediately earned the winemaker a reputation as one of the greatest in the world. Plaza Cafe’s guest host on Tuesday, Jeramaz, continues his uncle’s tradition of making wine fit for the world stage. He and the Grgich family share a common heritage with Plaza Cafe chef Doug Gulija, whose family also hails from Croatia, and the evening’s menu reflects this with several traditional Croatian dishes.

The evening of wine and food kicks off with a reception and some Croatian Plavac Mali (famous red wine of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast). Dinner begins with a 2011 Grgich-Hills Fume Blanc and Peekytoe Crab Salad—pea-mint coulis, pea shoot salad with preserved Meyer lemon lime ‘air’ and espellette—for the first course, followed by a second course featuring Parmesan Crusted Montauk Swordfish, with cappellini with lobster-morel ‘Bologenese,’ and the 2011 Grgich-Hills Chardonnay.

For the third course, diners will enjoy a 2010 Grgich-Hills Zinfandel – 2010 and chef Gulija’s Five-Spice Duck Confit Spring Rolls with Croatian sour cherry puree, followed by Rack of Lamb stuffed with Croatian Fig-Pine Nut Compote, Merlot reduction and grilled ramps for the fourth course.

The dinner concludes with a 2009 Grgich Violetta and Palacinkke with apricot marmalade for dessert.

In addition to the meal, Plaza Cafe has created a special drink to highlight the evening’s Croatian theme. The “Crocktail” is made from all Croatian ingredients, including Akvinta organic Croatian vodka,

Zadar Maraschino (Croatian cherry liqueur), Maraska sour cherry juice (from Croatia, of course!) and fresh lemon juice (sorry, the lemons are from California) with arancini (croatian candied orange peel) and cherry (American grown) garnish.

The Grgich Hills Wine Dinner, hosted by winemaker Ivo Jeramaz, begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 at Plaza Cafe in Southampton (61 Hill Street). The price is $135 per person, plus tax and tip, and seating is limited. Call 631-283-9323 or visit plazacafe.us for reservations.