Honoree faced harassment suit

The James Beard Foundation has been vocal about taking sexual misconduct into account when it comes to its lauded awards, yet one of its 2018 winners has in the past been linked to a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, 95, of Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford was named the 2018 James Beard Award winner in the Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional category Monday.

Grgich made his name as the Chateau Montelena winemaker who made the winning Chardonnay in the Judgment of Paris in 1976.

In 2003, Grgich was sued by three former employees. Two teenage sisters claimed he sexually harassed them, and a bookkeeper alleged she was fired for trying to get Grgich to stop harassing the girls. According to 2003 reports in the Napa Valley Register, the sisters — then ages 17 and 19 — said that Grgich “touched them inappropriately, commented on their physiques, and forced them to ‘French kiss’ him.”

Grgich denied the claims at the time. All three women settled out of court in 2004.

Last week, Beard Foundation awards committee chair Anne Quatrano said in a statement that judges would “consider the totality of what they know about any candidates when they vote — not just the quality of their food, but the quality of their leadership.”

Quatrano also said that past award winners “who have been accused of harassment or misconduct in the workplace” would have their voting privileges suspended.