Robert Mondavi
Definition - What does Robert Mondavi mean?
Robert Mondavi (1913 - 2008) has been considered the father of the Napa Valley wine industry. It was his technical improvements as a vineyard operator and his marketing strategies that brought recognition to the Napa Valley in California. He was one of the first to promote wine by their varietal rather than a generic approach. This has now become standard for New World wines.
WineFrog explains Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi was a first-generation American with parents who came to the United States from the Marche region of Italy. In 1943, Robert joined his father and brother when they acquired the Charles Krug winery. Following a family feud, Robert separated from the family business and began his own winery with the intention to compete with famous French wines. It was his winery that was the first prominent winery built after Prohibition. He is also known for developing a style of wine made from Sauvignon blanc and dry-oak aged, called "Fumé Blanc".
Robert Mondavi Accolades:
- "Man of the Year" in 1989 by Decanter magazine
- Awarded Doctorate of Oenology, Honoris Causa of Johnson & Wales University
- Inducted into the California Hall of Fame - 2007
- Inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame - 2007
Today, Robert Mondavi wines are sold across the US as some of the most common and recognizable of all. His name has become a staple, synonymous with Californian wine and is as well-known as other viticulturalists like Albert J. Winkler and Maynard Amerine.
