A Death in the Vineyard

Robert Gerald Mondavi (1913-2008)

died on the 16th of this month. He was the patriarch of the modern Napa Valley wine industry; Doing more than anyone to change the perception of California wine from jug wine to fine wine. He traveled to fine restaurants all over the country promoting his wine at a time when fine restaurants only had French wines on the menu. He was first to promote fine food as a way of selling fine wine--First to have winery tours and wine tastings-- First to reach out to other vintners and to form partnerships. The most famous paring was Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Opus One wine.

He was a helpful friend to many, especially competitors. Like his father’s Bob Mondavi’s word was bankable.

Bob’s parents were immigrants from Italy. They succeeded with hard work and risk taking. His father Cesare insisted on pronouncing their name in an Americanized fashion—Mon-davey and it was not until Bob founded the Robert Mondavi Winery and his father was dead that he changed the pronouncing back to the correct Italian, three syllables: Mon-da-vi. His brother, Peter, continued with Mon-davey until just a few years ago. It was a challenge for the business community to remember how to pronounce the name. It depended upon which branch of the family to whom you were speaking. They would correct you.

His parents' treatment of him vis-à-vis his younger brother, Peter, led to the estrangement of Bob and his brother. That led, in turn, to a ten-year, messy lawsuit that split the family forever. Ironically Bob made similar mistakes with his two sons and today they do not get along well.

This failure eventually led to the Robert Mondavi Winery’s being sold. Now none of the Mondavi family is involved in the company that was so much a part of their life. Peter Mondavi, with his children, continues to own Charles Krug Winery. This story is told in Bob’s autobiography, Harvests of Joy. For a more interesting, less self-serving telling read House of Mondavi, an excellent book by J. F. Siler. I recommend both. Anyone with a family business and children would be wise to study the Mondavi family history

Robert Mondavi was almost insolvent near the end of his life. He had pledged great sums of money to charities. When the Mondavi stock price fell his holdings were valued at less than his pledges. He did not renege though. He gave up control of his namesake winery to keep his word.

Bob Mondavi…rest in peace.