Robert Mondavi, RIP

It is an honor to have enjoyed his wines in the old days and to have contributed in a very minor way to his success in revolutionizing an entire industry. He was a true giant, may he rest in well deserved peace.

pavane

Robert Mondavi may be, at least to some of us here in CA, the pre-eminent amongst the names of the founders of the wine industry that is CA today. Martini, the Gallo brothers ... and, most notably, Robert Mondavi.

It was his vision that re-invigorated the Napa Valley. It was his belief that turned CA into arguably the only real competitor to the hallowed vineyards of France for premium wines. It was his passion that created a lineage of great winemakers. And it was his energy that ignited the explosion that turned wine from an obsucre agricultural economy to the prestige business that is is today in CA.

I hope we all find a bottle of a well-aged Mondavi this weekend, and toast the man, and the legacy of great wine he left us.

I said to my wife tonight that he died and the TV news said he drank so much wine he didn't have to be embalmed. She thought I was serious, but a bad joke on a sad day. I think I made the same lame joke when Justin Meyer died.. I still miss Justin and will miss Sir Mondadavi.