Reflections on a Summer at Robert Mondavi Winery

By now you’ve heard many heartfelt reflections on the passing of Robert Mondavi, from those who have known him well over the years. But what about those who started drinking wine after Robert had left his impact? When the maverick had already convinced the world that fine wines could be made in California?

One of my first meaningful wine experiences was during a summer I spent giving tours at the flagship vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley. I felt his influence pervading through everything we did. At that time Robert was 89 (I was there for the big 90th soiree) and the vineyard was still family owned. These were some of the last few, precious moments that the family had, with complete ownership of the empire that Robert had nurtured. I didn’t realize this at the time, of course.

On my first day I discovered Robert’s absolute dedication to education. I started training for an unspecified job, with fifteen other students, learning everything from canopy management to rootstocks and of course, memorizing their many brands and their significance (he was a business man after all). I honestly had no idea what I’d be doing, but I figured my alphabetizing skills might come in handy. Did it matter if I knew what a cordon spur training system was? Not really, but that was Robert’s way. Every new employee went through the same rigorous training process whether cellar sprayer or secretary. In the end, I did end up using this knowledge feverishly, when they asked me to lead tours, rather than doing that clerical job I’d signed up for.

Educating Americans on wine was always important to him, so I wasn’t surprised to see it playing out in his business. But how many other businessmen would take a week of their employees’ time to educate them on skills they might never use on the job? To say that Robert Mondavi was unique, is a gross understatement. We spent a week, trapsing around the vineyard with gigantic white binders with pages and pages of information to learn. And boy, were there quizzes! I’ll remind you that I was merely 21 years old, by far the youngest person going through this process, and the whole thing was quite intimidating. But in the end, I came out of it with a love for wine and a thirst for knowledge. Of course, growing up with my parents, wine was always a part of our lives, but no matter what your parents do, there’s always a teenager in you, dying to reject it.

When I reflect on Robert Mondavi and my summer spent at the vineyard, I think of one word: perseverance. It wasn’t easy for him to convince the world that fine wine could be made in California. As you can imagine, he heard the word no from restaurants and nonbelievers, time and time again. It takes a certain steadfast belief in your own principles, to push on even when others disagree. It takes perseverance to stand outside on highway 29 and flag down passing cars so that you can invite them in for a taste of fine Napa Valley wine. It takes perseverance to convince people of the value of using a week of people’s time for the sole purpose of education, the cost of which may never be redeemed. Robert persevered in everything from his job, to his social life. The story of his courtship of Margrit though, is for another time.

We all have something to learn from the passing of Robert Mondavi, whether we are 21 or 71 and that is to trust your own instincts and persevere, ignoring what naysayers may cross your path.