My recent opportunity in touring the Robert Mondavi Winery was an eye-opening experience. My first visit to the winery was in the late 80s. I was fortunate enough to attend the visit while Robert Mondavi was still alive. You could still feel his presence in every aspect of the winery and the tour itself. The strong Italian influence and way of life was embedded in every bottle, every laugh, and every smile I encountered during my visit.

   In recent years, many wineries have come and gone in Napa Valley. Ownerships have been changed, as was the case with the Robert Mondavi Winery. Although the new ownership has implemented newer programs, the vision of Robert Mondavi’s goal to produce some of the finest wines in the world has endured the test of time.

    During my most recent visit we toured the new To Kalon Project, named after the vineyard that surrounds the winery, which translates to “Beautiful” in Greek. The project itself utilizes gravity to transport wine through the production system. The winery has returned to traditional oak fermentation in the belief that it would enhance the quality of their finest wines.

  While walking the grounds of the winery, I absorbed the visual stimuli of the Winery’s traditional Spanish mission-style architecture. The sculptures, arches, and many art exhibits throughout the winery added vastly to the appeal and history of the vineyard. One’s senses were not only overwhelmed by smells and tastes but by the visual sculpture that was the Robert Mondavi Winery.

    As I was touring the vegetable and herb gardens, I noticed fresh cuts in the vegetable plants, only to later discover that they were accompanying my garden ratatouille and herb crusted rack of lamb. In the traditional culinary style of Robert Mondavi, the dinner was complemented with a 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve followed by the 2006 Reserve. The ’91 vintage was very elegant and had a Bordeaux-styled influence, while the ’06 vintage had a classic Napa valley style. This tasting perfectly encapsulated the dream of Robert Mondavi. His desire to bring the classical style into the contemporary era, while maintaining the true essence and soul of the rich history of the winery, was finally realized.

Cheers -- Mario Zungul, Wine Consultant, Jacksonville