About The Grill

As a young man in 1850, our great, great grandfather, Eli Francovich, migrated to California from Petrovac, Yugoslavia during the early gold strike in the Mother Lode. In 1859, he moved to Reno, Nevada. As one of Reno’s early settlers, he built the Wine House, one of Nevada’s first restaurants and bars. The Wine House became one of best restaurants & best steakhouses in Reno for locals and visitors. It was in the heart of downtown and the perfect place to share a meal with friends and guests. The Wine House operated continuously for 87 years and boasted Nevada’s earliest liquor and gambling licenses and was also Nevada’s first multi-story casino.

Our father, Samuel Boyd Francovich, was a Navy Aviator Lieutenant during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic accomplishments at the battle of Samar Island on October 25, 1944. He opted for a career in law, serving as Reno’s City Attorney in the 1950’s instead of pursuing the family’s restaurant business. One of the traditions at The Wine House was to produce Francovich Holiday Nog, a spirited eggnog served during the holidays. Although Sam closed The Wine House, he did keep the tradition of making Holiday Nog alive. His children, Sam, Debbie, and Jeff brought this beverage to the market in 1999, and is enjoyed by all the citizens of Nevada and California today. In addition to Holiday Nog, the family also produces a ready to drink Manhattan cocktail, which is also sold commercially.