The Legacy of Robert Mondavi

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 18th 2008 at 11:01AM

One of the most famous figures in American winemaking, Robert Mondavi, died on Friday. Mondavi, who was 94, was considered "the Father of Napa" and is credited with bringing Napa Valley and California wine in general to worldwide attention and fame. When he started creating wine it was assumed that only Europe could make good wine. By studying with and partnering with some of the great wine families of Europe he created many great wines.

While the future of the Mondavi wines themselves may be in question, Mondavi's influence on modern winemaking cannot be overstated. His legacy is more than the wines that bear his name but is instead a whole new way of thinking about New World wine that has led to quality wines not just in Napa but all around the U.S. and other parts of the world. Mondavi also donated millions of dollars to the University of California at Davis, which offers many winemaking programs, and founded the the art and wine center, Copia and was committed to advancing wine education.

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