Robert Mondavi

As many of you may have already read, famed California wine maker Robert Mondavi passed away last Friday at the age of 94. He lived a long time, but he certainly didn't waste any of it. Mondavi was one of the quintessential names in American wine, almost single handedly legitimizing Napa Valley as a force to be reckoned with and transitioning the area from relative obscurity to one of the most recognizable wine regions in the world.

In Mondavi's memoirs he stated that he wanted "to do whatever it took to make great wines and put Napa Valley on the map right alongside the great wine making centers of Europe," and that, in essence, is what he accomplished. The Mondavi brand is one of the most recognizable and common names in American (and sometimes European) wine stores. He laid the groundwork for the huge number of amazing vineyards that have bloomed in Napa since the mid fifties, and he probably rests comfortably now knowing that Napa wine is not only taken seriously but also here to stay. If you're interested in more information about the late great vintner, I suggest checking out his memoirs, "Harvests of Joy," or checking out the article the NY Times ran today. I've provided the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/dining/21mondavi.html?ref=style