Robert Mondavi

Robert Mondavi was an American winemaker who played a pivotal role in transforming the California wine industry and elevating New World wines to stand alongside leading European wines. Today, Rimping Supermarket invites you to learn about this legendary visionary of Napa Valley wine.

The Genesis of a Legend: From Athletic Dreams to Winemaking Path (1913 - 1965 AD)

Robert Mondavi was born on June 18, 1913, in Minnesota, USA. He grew up in a family already involved in the wine business (Robert's family had originally emigrated from Italy, but Robert was born in America and was the third of four siblings). Initially, Robert wasn't particularly interested in winemaking, as he dreamed of becoming an athlete.

However, fate took a turn when he was 21 years old. His family had to relocate again to Lodi, California, to start a new wine business. Consequently, he reluctantly began helping out at the family's vineyard. It was during this time that he developed a passion for the art of winemaking. He learned everything about wine, from grape cultivation to production. He also traveled to Europe to study traditional winemaking techniques.

Upon their move to California in 1943, Cesare Mondavi, his father, purchased a vineyard from Charles Krug (one of the pioneers of winemaking in Napa Valley), located in St. Helena, California, to produce and sell wine.

After producing wine in California for some time, in 1965, Robert resigned from his family's winery due to a dispute with his brother, Peter, regarding the direction of the winery's business.

The Birth of Robert Mondavi Winery and the New World Wine Revolution (1966 - 1970s AD)

Then, in 1966, Robert established his own winery, Robert Mondavi Winery, in Napa Valley, California, with the goal of producing world-class wines in California. Robert invested a significant $200,000 in his venture, making his winery the first major winery built in Napa Valley.

Before Robert founded his winery, American wines were generally perceived as inferior to their European counterparts. This belief persisted, even though Napa Valley in Northern California shared similar climates and soil types with Southern Italy and France.

For this reason, Robert was determined to produce New World wines that could rival leading European wines. He focused on producing high-quality wines from locally grown grapes and also incorporated European winemaking techniques, such as temperature-controlled fermentation using stainless steel tanks for white wines.

Robert adopted cold fermentation techniques for white wines to preserve their fresh fruit flavors and aromas. Additionally, he discovered that a crucial element of French wine quality was aging in oak barrels. Subsequently, he began experimenting with aging his wines in oak barrels, and the results were Californian wines with a unique character that rivaled leading French wines.

In terms of marketing, Robert was also creative. He challenged conventional norms by promoting diverse wine labeling, rather than a uniform style, and advocated for including grape variety names on labels. This greatly attracted the attention of wine lovers. Soon, his labeling style became the standard for New World Wines, and wineries in Australia, Chile, South Africa, and other countries adopted his approach.

In 1968, Robert launched his first wine, Fumé Blanc, a dry Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak barrels. Its release was a great success. His wine immediately elevated the status of American wines to par with European wines. He then began producing a variety of other high-quality wines.

By 1972, his wines had gained immense popularity. The Los Angeles Times, a California newspaper, declared Robert's 1969 Cabernet Sauvignon as the wine of the year.

Furthermore, in 1976, many wines from other producers in Napa Valley also received international acclaim. And in 1979, Napa Valley's reputation soared even higher when Robert collaborated with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of Château Mouton Rothschild in France, to establish Opus One Winery in the valley. The objective was to produce the highest quality wines by blending Bordeaux and Napa Valley styles.

Global Success and Lasting Legacy (1980s - Present)

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Robert successfully expanded his business both domestically and internationally. His wines won numerous awards, making his name famous worldwide. Moreover, Robert's success stimulated the growth of the Napa Valley wine industry.

In 2004, Robert sold his business to Constellation Brands, a leading international producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. Despite being sold, the brand remained committed to producing high-quality wines while adhering to sustainable viticultural practices and operating according to Robert's original principles.

After selling the business, in 2005, Robert and his brother Peter reunited to make wine for the first time after their long-standing dispute. They used grapes from both family vineyards to produce a single barrel of Cabernet wine, which sold for $400,000 (approximately 14,736,000 Baht) at an auction in Napa Valley under the name Ancora Una Volta (meaning Once Again).

Robert Mondavi passed away on May 16, 2008, at the age of 94. However, his reputation and contributions continue to be remembered as the Godfather of Napa Valley Wine. His brother also passed away on February 20, 2016, at the age of 101.