Mondavi
Numerous California wineries claim to have transformed America's drinking culture and Robert Mondavi is certainly one of them. His winery was the first major new winery built in Napa Valley since Prohibition, and it began to prove that Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the classic European appellations. Mondavi also gave Sauvignon Blanc a new name, Fumé Blanc, and watched as other producers in the state followed suit.
He ran the winery alongside his sons, Michael and Tim, and the Oakville vineyard, which he acquired after a dispute with his family, became the heart of the winery. Later, his meeting with Baron Philippe de Rothschild in Hawaii developed into one of the first full-fledged Franco-Californian partnerships in the wine industry.
The history, from lawsuit to a new winery
Cesare and Rosa Mondavi left Italy's Marche region in the late 19th century and settled in Minnesota. Robert was born in 1913, and Peter was born a year later. In 1922, the family moved to Lodi, California, where Cesare started a business buying grapes from farmers and delivering the fruit to home winemakers, a venture in which Prohibition had been remarkably successful.
After completing their studies at Stanford, the two brothers joined their father's business. Robert took charge of sales, while Peter was put in charge of winemaking. In 1943, upon hearing that Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley was up for sale, Robert persuaded Cesare to purchase the property, which led the family to transition from the grape brokerage business to the premium wine business.
Cesare passed away in 1959, and Rosa assumed the role of president. Throughout the 1960s, Charles Krug grew to become one of the most well-known wineries in Napa, but Robert and Peter disagreed on how high to raise quality standards and how much to invest to achieve them. This dispute escalated into a fight. Robert left the company in 1965 and filed a lawsuit regarding his share of the business.
In 1966, he opened Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa's first new winery since the late 1930s. The lawsuit dragged on until a settlement was reached in 1976; under the terms of this settlement, Peter took over the operation of Charles Krug, while Robert received most of the family-owned vineyards surrounding Oakville.
And then there is Hawaii. In 1970, at a wine and spirits fair held at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Robert Mondavi met Baron Philippe de Rothschild for the first time. Neither of them had the means to take immediate action, but, since Mondavi was still deeply embroiled in a conflict with his brother, and the Baron was still lobbying to promote Mouton Rothschild to First Growth, the idea of making wine together was raised right then and there, and this eventually bore fruit as Opus One.
What Oakville gave him
Losing the family business but keeping the vineyard. When the 1976 agreement was signed, Robert Mondavi acquired most of the Mondavi property located in the Oakville area of Napa Valley, and those plots became the backbone of the winery he had already been operating for 10 years.
To Kalon is the name of the vineyard listed on this winery's Reserve label (both red and white). At that time, in California, most labels only listed the county or valley name, so it was unusual to list a single vineyard name.
Cabernet, Chardonnay, and a renamed Sauvignon
After building a reputation with two grape varieties, Robert Mondavi Winery made a third variety a trend.
- Cabernet Sauvignon: The grape variety that established this winery's reputation in Napa Valley
- Chardonnay: The grape variety that helped build its early reputation
- Sauvignon Blanc: The variety that Mondavi sold under the name Fumé Blanc
The concept of Fumé Blanc was far more significant than it appeared at first glance. While Sauvignon Blanc had image issues in California, Mondavi rebranded it, and other producers subsequently adopted both the name and the grape variety.
The wines
As listed here, the Robert Mondavi lineup features three wines: the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and To Kalon Vineyard The Reserve Fumé Blanc.
The distinction is simple: One Cabernet represents the valley, while the others denote specific vineyards. Furthermore, Fumé Blanc is a white wine that proves what Mondavi had long argued: that Sauvignon Blanc deserves to be bottled as a proper wine, not a cheap one.
But that's not all. Robert Mondavi Winery initially gained fame through Chardonnay, and this winery has long produced both red and white wines, rather than specializing exclusively in reds.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Robert Mondavi Winery?
In Napa Valley, California. Its core vineyard holdings are in the Oakville area.
What is Fumé Blanc?
It is Robert Mondavi's name for Sauvignon Blanc. He introduced it in California and the term caught on well beyond his own winery.
How is Robert Mondavi connected to Charles Krug?
Charles Krug was bought by Robert's father Cesare in 1943 at Robert's urging. After the brothers fell out, a 1976 settlement left Peter Mondavi in charge of Charles Krug.
What was the link with Baron Philippe de Rothschild?
The two met in Hawaii in 1970 and discussed making a wine together. The project eventually went ahead as Opus One.
