Robert Mondavi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Mondavi
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Robert Mondavi and his wife Margrit
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| Born | June 18, 1913 |
| Died | May 16, 2008 (aged 94) |
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| Spouse(s) |
Marjorie Declusin
(m. 1937; div. 1979)Margrit Biever
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2002), French Legion of Honour (2005) California Hall of Fame (2005) |
Robert Gerald Mondavi (born June 18, 1913 – died May 16, 2008) was a famous American winemaker. He helped make the wines from Napa Valley in California known around the world.
Mondavi was one of the first to suggest labeling wines by the type of grape used, like "Chardonnay" or "Cabernet Sauvignon". This idea became very popular for wines made outside of Europe. The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at the University of California, Davis was named in his honor. It opened in 2008.
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Robert Mondavi's Early Life
Robert Mondavi's parents, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, came from Italy. They settled in Hibbing, Minnesota, where Robert was born. Later, his family moved to Lodi, California. Robert went to Lodi High School there.
In Lodi, Robert's father, Cesare, started a successful business. It was called C. Mondavi and Sons. They packed and shipped grapes, mostly to the east coast, for people to make wine at home. Robert Mondavi studied at Stanford University and graduated in 1937.
Joining the Family Business
In 1943, Robert joined his father and younger brother, Peter. Their family had bought the Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena, California.
In 1965, Robert Mondavi decided to leave the family winery. He had some disagreements with his brother Peter about how the business should be run. After leaving, Robert decided to start his own winery. He wanted to make wines that were as good as the best French wines.
Starting the Robert Mondavi Winery
In 1966, Robert Mondavi opened his own winery in Oakville, California. His sons, Michael and Tim, worked with him. Michael handled sales and marketing, while Tim was the winemaker. The Robert Mondavi Winery was the first big winery built in Napa Valley after the time of Prohibition.
Part of the land for Mondavi's winery included the To Kalon vineyard. This name means "the beautiful" in Greek. It was first started in 1868. The winery building itself was designed by Cliff May. It opened in 1966 and is now famous for its beautiful archway and bell tower.
Robert Mondavi's Family Life
In 1937, Robert Mondavi married Marjorie Ellen Declusin, his high school sweetheart. They had three children: Michael, Marcia, and Tim. Their marriage ended in the late 1970s.
In 1980, Robert married Margrit Biever. She was from Switzerland and worked at the Robert Mondavi winery. Robert and Margrit did not have children together. However, they spent a lot of time and money supporting many good causes. They were known for their generous giving to charity.
Robert Mondavi's Wine Innovations
In 1968, Robert Mondavi made a special kind of Sauvignon blanc wine. It was aged in oak barrels and was very dry. At the time, Sauvignon blanc was not very popular in California. Mondavi called his new wine "Fumé Blanc". It became very successful, and soon, Fumé Blanc was a common name for Sauvignon blanc wines.
Mondavi created many high-quality wines that were respected by wine experts. In 1979, he built the Mondavi Woodbridge Winery in Lodi, California. This winery became a leader in making popular, good-quality wines. He also worked with other famous winemakers. One example is his partnership with Baron Philippe de Rothschild to create Opus One Winery. Since the 1990s, he also started projects with partners in other countries like Europe, South America, and Australia.
In 1997, at a big wine tasting event in Europe, the Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Reserve was ranked as the best wine.
In 2005, Robert Mondavi and his younger brother Peter made wine together again. This was the first time they had worked together since their disagreement many years before. They used grapes from both their family vineyards to make one barrel of a special wine. It was called "Ancora Una Volta," which means "Once Again." This barrel of wine was sold for $400,000 at an auction, and all the money went to charity.
Robert Mondavi's Legacy
In 2003, Robert Mondavi felt that his winery's name was losing its connection to fine wines. This was because the company had started focusing more on less expensive wines. He wanted to bring back the image of his winery as a producer of top-quality wines.
In 2004, the Mondavi winery was sold to another company called Constellation Brands. After the sale, Robert Mondavi worked with his son Tim and daughter Marcia. They started a new family business called Continuum Estate. They wanted to make one very special wine from a single vineyard. Today, Continuum Estate is still run by Robert's son Tim, daughter Marcia, and his grandchildren.
Supporting Arts and Education
Robert Mondavi was also a very generous person. In 2001, he gave $10 million to help build the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis. This center opened in 2002.
He also donated $25 million to create the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at UC Davis. This was the largest private gift ever given to UC Davis at that time. It helped start a new era for the university's wine and food programs.
Robert and Margrit also helped create a museum called Copia in Napa, California. They supported the restoration of the old Napa Valley Opera House and helped start the Oxbow School, an art school for high school students. They also contributed to the restoration of the Lincoln Theatre and supported the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.
Robert Mondavi's Death
Robert Mondavi passed away at his home in Yountville, California, on May 16, 2008. He was 94 years old.
Books by Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi wrote a book about his life called Harvests of Joy. It was published in 1998.
Awards and Honors
Robert Mondavi received many awards and honors during his life.
- In 1985, he received the Golden Plate Award.
- In 1989, Decanter magazine named him "Man of the Year."
- He was added to the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1991.
- In 2002, he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic from Italy.
- In 2005, he received the Legion of Honour from the French government.
- In 2007, he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
- He was also inducted into the Culinary Institute of America Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contributions to California's wine industry.
