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California Wine's Saviour? Robert Mondavi RIP
A great pioneer of the modern California wine industry Robert Mondavi died yesterday, Friday May 16 2008 aged 94. Much has been written about him and about the winery he founded in the Napa Valley, but today is the occasion to remember Mondavi for his philosophy and all the many great things he did for the wine industry. Sadly today the winery he founded is no longer in the hands of his family, but owned by the largest wine company in the world, Constellation Brands Inc. - more's the pity. Like most entrepreneurs Mondavi cannot have been easy to get on with. Early on, it was his falling out with his brother that led to him leaving the Charles Krug winery and founding his own in 1966. Much later in the 1990s, it may have been Robert Mondavi's rocky relationship with his sons that led to the difficulties the winery encountered before being taken over. However, for all of that Mondavi was an amazing hard worker (right up until his 90s) and a visionary. He had many crusades and missions, but the one he will be remembered for by most people is that he was instrumental in putting the Napa Valley (and California) on the world wine map way back in the 1970s. Not only did he insist that his winery focussed on high quality wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon red wines in particular winning great praise, but he did not hesitate to present these wines to export markets as equals with French wines. When Robert Mondavi orchestrated a link up with Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Bordeaux to make the ultimate Napa Valley/Bordeaux joint venture wine, it was a master stroke. The resulting wine Opus One was the first seriously expensive wine to emerge from California and sold for a record price at the first Napa Valley charity wine auction in 1981. Further joint ventures were formed with famous family-owned wineries in Chile and in Italy. Mondavi was a strong believer in wine education, he encouraged the matching of fine cuisine and wine and he was a great patron of the arts. He and his wife Magrit supported many local and State causes including COPIA and the wine department of the University of California at Davis. Robert Mondavi's philosophy is summed up by a quote from him: "To succeed and have a happy life, you need common sense, a commitment to hard work and the courage to go your own way. Interest is not enough – you must be passionate about what you do. Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life." I hope that this weekend many will drink a suitable wine to toast the memory of this great man who did so much for the advancement of California wine. |
Official Obituary of Robert Mondavi
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