Posted on 05/16/2008 2:16:40 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
BERKELEY, Calif. - A winery spokeswoman says California winemaking patriarch Robert Mondavi has died. He was 94. Robert Mondavi Winery spokeswoman Mia Malm says Mondavi died peacefully at his home in Yountville on Friday.
After being ousted from a family-run venture with his younger brother, Mondavi started his own winery in 1966 at the age of 52.
He built the winery into a thriving business using innovations such as cold fermentation and stainless steel tanks. But the winery struggled from rising competition among other things in the mid-1990s and the company was bought out for $1.3 billion in 2004.
Mondavi traveled the world into his 90s promoting the cultural, social and health benefits of wine — of California wine in particular.
Rest in Peace!
It struggled but ended up being sold for $1.4 BILLION. Musta been some struggle,
Mondavi swam a mile a day (... it helped that he had a private indoor lap pool) until recent years. May have helped to explain his longevity. (He also didn’t look 90 the last time I saw him. He looked a tan and fit 75 or so.)
Robert Mondavi was truly a visionary wine maker and a fantastic businessman.
It was Mondavi’s son who ran the business in to the ground and caused the business to be sold.
Rest in peace Robert. When we were 18 we got into a red wine kick. Mondavi cabernet is what we usually settled on, 2.99 a bottle, same stuff that goes for a twenty spot now.
I have enjoyed many a bottle of this man’s fine products. RIP.
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