wine: robert mondavi (1913-2008)

rone (

ronebofh) wrote in

wine,
@ 2008-05-16 14:48:00

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robert mondavi (1913-2008)

Robert Mondavi passed away this morning.

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	anita_margarita 2008-05-16 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	He had a profound influence on the quality of wine we drink today, as well as the entire industry. Amazing man. (Reply to this)

	musicboxwaltz 2008-05-16 10:39 pm UTC (link)
	holy shit! D: thank you so much for this post :drinks one for mondavi: (Reply to this)

	meryddian 2008-05-16 11:06 pm UTC (link)
	Wow. I had just started reading "The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty" by Julia Flynn Siler - worthwhile read for anybody interested in the whole Mondavi mystique. (Reply to this)

	cliodna 2008-05-16 11:53 pm UTC (link)
	How sad. I just bought a bottle of one of his reserve collections this afternoon...before I heard the news. I feel like I should open it now as a memorial to him rather than waiting till the belated Mother's Day party... (Reply to this)

	mercystars 2008-05-17 12:20 am UTC (link)
	And may he rest in peace. I really like his CK Mondavi chardonnay. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	isara 2008-05-17 12:36 am UTC (link)
	FYI - CK Mondavi is actually Charles Krug. Bob and his brother had a big falling out many years ago and CK went off and made his own winery. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mercystars 2008-05-17 01:08 am UTC (link)
	Whoops! You are so right! I forgot all about their fight... (Reply to this)(Parent)

isara
2008-05-17 12:39 am UTC (link)

thanks. He was my godmother's husband.

My whole family is pretty bummed and Bob was a formative influence on my dad, who is also a winemaker.

My Dad wrote the following press release:

As some of you may have heard, Bob Mondavi died today at 94. He was a
friend and inspiration to me during the formative years. I remember
spending hours with both Bob and Margrit at the winery, discussing new
ideas, like barrel fermented white wines and roto-tanks, and how to
market Sauvignon Blanc.

In 1982, when we were having a picnic at his new house - only the
foundation had been poured, I remember him saying with a twinkle in his
eye that the house would be called Wappo Hill, and that it was not some
reference to a certain nationality.

He was always generous with his time and knowledge, doing anything he
could to help those new to the business. So many of us owe so much to
him. An era has now passed. I hope we don't forget the fun and
excitement it was.

I shall never forget him.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	young_egotist 2008-05-19 01:09 am UTC (link)
	What wine does your father make, out of curiosity? (your correspondent in the field...) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

isara
2008-05-19 02:03 am UTC (link)

This is my dad's new winery:

428 Wines

in the early 80's he was the winemaker for V. Sattui, then left and worked for a couple, smaller wineries in Calistoga and upstate New York. He decided that he wanted more of an income, so became a wine industry CPA. He's still doing that, but started 428 as a hobby.

The 2004 Boulevard is really, really good. Nice, spicy, complex merlot blend. Not sure when the white is coming out. Hoping to taste it in a couple of weeks when I go up to visit.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

animimi
2008-05-17 01:58 am UTC (link)

I have a certain fondness in my heart for Mondavi. Back when I was a poor college student (and also single parent so really poor) I decided to splurge on a bottle of wine for a date who was coming to my house for dinner. I bought Mondavi's chardonnay. It was the first time in my life that I tasted in the glass what the back of the bottle described. From that point forward I was enlightened and it started a long, still going, journey learning about wine.

(Reply to this)

	spir4l 2008-05-17 02:05 am UTC (link)
	Wow. (Reply to this)

	kellarissa 2008-05-17 08:09 am UTC (link)
	I was just inspired the check the bottle I bought the other night, and wouldn't you know, it's a Robert Mondavi Private Slection Pinot Noir from 2006. I splurged on an $18 bottle because my boyfriend't out of town for the weekend. Hahah. What a coincedence. The wine's lovely; I'd never tried it before. (Reply to this)

	young_egotist 2008-05-19 01:10 am UTC (link)
	So far nothing has cropped up in Napa in terms of a public memorial or anything, but I'm keeping my ears to the ground.. Funny enough, I found out from a friend on the East Coast right after it happened and I told Margaret Duckhorn's secretary b/c she was the first person I saw, and that started a chain reaction around the winery... (Reply to this)(Thread)

	isara 2008-05-19 02:05 am UTC (link)
	only news I've found so far is that there will be a public memorial at the winery itself, but is no date set. The funeral is private, but I haven't heard a date for that yet either. Bob and Margrit's assistants were sent home and won't return until Monday. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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