Wine Advocates
Robert G. Mondavi, 1913-2008
Winemaker Robert Gerald Mondavi was born to Italian immigrants in Minnesota. He earned his degree in economics and business administration at Stanford University in 1936. After graduating from Stanford, he worked at a winery his father purchased in 1935. When he left Charles Krug Winery (another winery his father bought), he founded the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1966, eventually becoming one of the titans in the American wine world of the late twentieth century. From the inception of Mondavi Winery to his role as wine advocate, Mondavi redefined the place of wine in American food culture and promoted California wines throughout the world. He put in a great deal of effort to change the image of wine from vice to a perfect complement for food by working with the Wine Institute to promote the health and social benefits of moderate wine consumption. Mondavi paid close attention to the media’s coverage of the "French Paradox" and to research on finding a relationship between red wine consumption and lower rates of heart disease.Through major contributions and support, UC Davis owes much to the generosity of Robert and Margrit Mondavi as they have made significant contributions to the arts and wine research at UC Davis. The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2002 and the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science opened in 2008.
The Robert G. Mondavi Papers include extensive correspondence from winemakers, family members, employees of the Robert Mondavi Winery, and contacts worldwide. The collection also contains biographical materials, Mondavi’s speeches and travel files, and information on COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts.