Robert Mondavi Winery #171

Robert Mondavi Winery: A Napa Valley Icon

For nearly six decades, Robert Mondavi Winery has been a beacon of innovation, excellence, and craftsmanship in California’s Napa Valley. A true pioneer, Robert Mondavi has not only shaped the region’s wine industry but has also set standards that resonate worldwide. Today Robert Mondavi Winery has vineyards in different parts of Napa and Sonoma Valley. 

To Kalon Vineyard is recognized as one of the finest “Grand Cru” vineyards of the world. Ancient Greek for “the highest beauty,” it provides winery with grapes for their world-class Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, and is the exclusive source of Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc Reserve.

Wappo Hill Vineyard is located on 400 acres below the steep jagged cliffs of the Stags Leap palisades. This region’s gravely, clay loam soil, cliffs that reflect the afternoon sun, and nearby bay breezes maintaining cool morning and evening temperatures provide wines with balanced acidity, velvety texture and ripe fruit flavors.

Los Carneros AVA (Spanish for “the sheep”) spans the southernmost portion of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, just north of San Pablo Bay, where exposure to ocean breezes makes this the Napa Valley’s coolest vineyard area. The location is ideally suited for our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which thrive in the cool, lengthy growing season with warm summer days tempered by marine winds and fog.

A Vision Brought to Life

Robert Mondavi established his namesake winery in 1966 with a vision to create Napa Valley wines that would stand in the company of the world’s finest. “Walking through To Kalon, admiring its contours and vines, smelling the richness of its soil, I knew this was a very special place. It exuded an indefinable quality I could not describe, a feeling that was almost mystical,” Mondavi once said. Since that moment, To Kalon vineyard produces some of the most sought-after grapes, yielding wines that captivate industry experts, master sommeliers, and wine lovers alike.

Honoring a Legacy & Embracing the Future

In 2004, Robert Mondavi Winery entered a new chapter when it was acquired by Constellation Brands. The transition raised concerns among wine enthusiasts, and when Robert Mondavi passed away in 2008 at the age of 94, many feared that the winery’s legacy of excellence would fade.

However, Constellation Brands remained committed to preserving Mondavi’s vision. Under the leadership of winemaker Kurtis Ogasawara, the winery has continued to craft some of Napa Valley’s finest wines, ensuring that the Mondavi name remains a benchmark of quality.

Today, Robert Mondavi Winery remains a symbol of heritage and forward-thinking winemaking, continuing to inspire and shape the global wine landscape.

Unique Collaborations Create Value for Wine Collectors

Robert Mondavi Winery has always been at the forefront of innovation, not only in winemaking but also in wine collecting and authentication.

In 2021, the winery launched a groundbreaking partnership with French luxury porcelain house Bernardaud, redefining luxury wine collecting. The Robert Mondavi Winery x Bernardaud collection, titled “MCMLXVI” in honor of the winery’s founding year, introduced 1,966 exquisitely crafted Limoges porcelain 1.5L bottles. These limited-edition bottles, featuring custom wine blends from the iconic To Kalon vineyard, were exclusively offered as NFT-backed collectibles, merging fine wine with digital art.

Ode to Soul: The Vineyard’s Exceptional Character

Continuing its legacy of innovation, 2024 marks a new collaboration between head winemaker Genevieve Janssens and VII(N) The Seventh Estate co-founders Carmelo Anthony and Asani Swann. Their creation, Ode to Soul, is a masterful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot sourced from To Kalon. This partnership blends their unique perspectives and refined palates, resulting in a wine that expresses the vineyard’s exceptional character.