Robert Gerald Mondavi ist einer der wegweisendsten Winzer der neuen Welt, er gilt als der Visionär und Pionier des kalifornischen Weinbaus!
Geboren am 18. Juni 1913 in Virginia (Minnesota) als Sohn italienischer Einwanderer, gründete Robert Mondavi 1966 die Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, Napa Valley. 1979 gründet er die Woodbridge Kellerei in Lodi und übergibt 1993 die Leitung des Unternehmens an seine Söhne Tim und Michael, sowie seine Frau Margrit Biever-Mondavi. 1994 wird die Robert Mondavi Private Selection mit Weinen von der Central Coast ins Leben gerufen und das Familienunternehmen wird in eine Aktiengesellschaft umgewandelt. Zehn Jahre später, im Jahr 2004 erfolgt die Übernahme des strauchelnden Unternehmens durch Constellation Brands.
Am 16. Mai 2008 verstarb Robert Mondavi im Alter von 94 Jahren.
Siehe auch: Robert Mondavi – Ein Leben für den Wein!
Wichtige Ereignisse und Auszeichnungen in seinem Leben waren:
- 1962 Chairman of Wine Institute
- 1981 Mitbegründer des American Institute of Wine and Food with Julia Child und Richard Graff
- 1982 „Winemaker of the Year“ – American Wine Society
- 1983 „Commandeur de Bordeaux“ – Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux
- 1986 „Man of the Year“ – Wines and Vines magazine
- 1988 „Man of the Year“ – Decanter magazine
- 1988 „Hall of Fame“ Award – California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
- 1990 „Merit Award“ – American Society of Enology and Viticulture
- 1990 „Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year“ – James Beard Foundation
- 1991 „Ambassador“ Award – Culinary Institute of America
- 1991 „Master of Aesthetics of Gastronomy“ – National Business Hall of Fame
- 1992 Honorary Chairperson for Life – American Institute of Wine & Food,
- 1992 „Winemaker of the Year“ – California State Polytechnic University at Pomona
- 1993 Honorary Master of Wine – Institute of Masters of Wine
- 1995 Bay Area Business Hall of Fame – Bay Area Council
- 1995 Honorary Degree „Associate Member of Cornell Society of Hotelmen – Cornell University
- 1996 Torch Bearer – International Olympic Committee
- 1997 „California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award“,
- 1997 „Reader’s Choice Award“ – Wine Spectator
- 1997 „International Achievement Award” – World Trade Club
- 1997 „Business Leader of the Year“ – Harvard Business School Association
- 1998 European Wine Council’s „Lifetime Achievement Award“
- 2000 International Food & Beverage Hall of Fame
- Doctor of Oenology, Honoris Causa, by Board of Trustees of Johnson & Wales University
- Hall of Fame – Di Rona (Distinguished Restaurants of North America)
- 2002 Lifetime Achievement recognition from the California State Assembly
- 2002 Lifetime Achievement recognition from the American Food and Entertaining Awards by Bon Appetit magazine
- 2002 Lifetime Achievement recognition from TV Food Network
- 2002 Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Awards
- 2002 Presidential Citation, University of California at Davis
- 2002 Degree of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa, California College of Arts & Crafts
- 2002 Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, Government of Italy
- 2003 US House of Representatives, „Distinguished Honorary Member of the Agricultural Leadership Alumni
- 2003 „Award of Merit – Winemaker of the Century” Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs
- 2004 First ever “Wine Personality of the Year, Innovation” – Wine International magazine
- 2004 Recipient of the UC Davis Medal “Honored Vintner”
- 2005 Legion d’Honneur award, France’s highest Presidential honor
- 2005 Ellis Island Family Heritage Award
- 2005 Vinexpo Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2007 Honored as the first “Pioneer” inductee in the founding year of the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame
- 2007 Inducted into the California Hall of Fame at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.