An Affectionate Mondavi Story

Had dinner the other evening with a gentleman who wrote the Mondavi Winery's newsletters for several years. He had graduated from my alma mater a year after me so we swapped a few stories about college as we split a bottle of Calicaro Lone Oak Pinot.

He then started in on Mondavi stories. Robert Mondavi was one of the most well loved and influential figures in the American wine business. As their copywriter, Jeffrey was frequently able to have dinner with the family.

At one dinner, Robert Mondavi, who was well along in years at that point, swirled the wine in the glass so hard that it splattered everyone else at the table with a chest high horizontal spray of red wine. Mrs. Mondavi said with some alacrity, "a little less enthusiasm, my dear!"

Jeffrey also said that the first time he met Mr Mondavi it was a 7am breakfast meeting. Mr Mondavi had personally gotten up early and gone to the Oakville Grocery to pick up sweet rolls and coffee for the meeting. Jeffrey said this was typical for him- no pretension, so down to earth.

The wine business is full of great characters and clearly he was one of the greatest.

Cheers,

Dave