ROBERT MONDAVi

TURNS 90 YEARS YOUNG

A  L O O K B A C K O N A L I F E T I M E O F I N N O V A T I O N

“To understand wine, interest is not

enough - you must be passionate,”

The winery has replanted much of their Napa Valley vineyard property to ideal rootstock

and clones.Since 1993, the Mondavi’s have collaborated with NASA to apply

advanced remote sensing technologies in vineyard management.

In 1966, Robert Mondavi purchased initial acreage in

Oakville, Napa Valley and built his winery. It wasn’t long before

he was showing the world just what California was capable of

with the introduction of oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc, his own

invention which he named “Fumé Blanc” in the late 1960’s. “I

have learned that it’s important to create wines that have your

style and are unique to you, regardless of what others are doing,”

he says. “I traveled the world and spoke with many of the great

winemakers of the world. Then I formed my own opinions about

what made great wine and what our style should be. After learning

everything I could about wine, I was able to decide what was

right for us. Then it was important to excel in what I did, to

devote my whole life to it.”

He introduced cold fermentation in the 1960’s, and began

experimenting with stainless steel tank fermentation and using

small French oak barrels for aging. Soon, California winemakers

everywhere were learning from Mondavi and adopting his winemaking

techniques, but he managed to always stay ahead of the

curve with a new innovation. In 1979, he formed the first international

joint venture with the Rothschild family of Chateau

Mouton Rothschild of Bordeaux to create the highly-acclaimed

Opus One.

Robert Mondavi is now Chairman Emeritus of the company

and the second generation has taken the reins, lead by Robert's

first born son, Michael Mondavi, Chairman of the Board. Robert's son Tim

Mondavi, Vice Chairman and Winegrower, has lead the winemaking team at

the winery for the past 27 years and under his direction, the winery has continued

its commitment to research in the winery and vineyard. The winery

has replanted much of their Napa Valley vineyard property to ideal rootstock

and clones.Since 1993, the Mondavi’s have collaborated with NASA to apply

advanced remote sensing technologies in vineyard management. In 1991, the

Robert Mondavi Winery launched the To Kalon Project, the first major renovation

in its history. Completed in 2001, the facility features gentle gravityflow

winemaking, and basket presses to enhance the personality of grapes from

the To Kalon vineyard. It is here that Tim Mondavi has taken the wines in a

new direction with the practice of oak fermentation; the resulting Cabernet

Sauvignon reflect an enhanced complexity and depth of color and flavor that

provide both power and finesse.