Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/723381
september 2016 / the tasting panel / 75 O ne look at the faces of all those who gathered at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville this past July for the winery's 50th anniversary cel- ebration was all the validation anyone needed to realize the enormity of Mr. Mondavi's influence. Gathered en masse were the very people who worked for him, made his business their business and, through it all, forged life-long friendships, memories and a collective sense of place in the history of wine in America. Exactly 50 years ago, on July 16, 1966, Robert Mondavi broke ground on his now iconic Oakville Estate property, setting off the shockwaves of an indis- cernible grape-quake that sent tremors around the world and back again. The power of the winery resonated louder with each passing year, until there was no question as to the world-shaking importance of that ephemeral moment. Hundreds of former and current employees, many donning name tags boasting "20 years' experience" or more, spent the day basking in the bright Napa Valley sun, in the heart of Oakville, with Napa's own Grand Cru To Kalon Vineyard in the backdrop—a plot first established in 1868, and where Cabernet Sauvignon has emerged as the undeniable champion of the appel- lation. To Kalon is one of the hallmarks of Mondavi's success (he trademarked the To Kalon name, Greek for "the beautiful," in 1978). His genius in calling his oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc wines Fumé Blanc is surely the other. A veritable Who's Who of Napa Valley was in attendance. Speeches at the anniversary event were short but punctuated with euphoric, emotional and laugh-out-loud hilarious memories. Michael Mondavi's speech recalled an almost unbelievable memory: "When dad went to get a loan from the Bank of America—whom he had dealt with through Charles Krug for over 30 years—the answer was: 'What's your col- lateral?' We all lived at the Charles Krug ranch, in a company home, and dad drove a company car, and so he listed the assets as 'a wife, three children and their clothes,'" which inspired ironic laughter. He continued, "But the fountain that's out front—Tim, Marcy, dad and I, decided to name it the Bill and Ina Heart Memorial Fountain because it was Bill and Ina that loaned dad the money to start Robert Mondavi Winery—we were not bankable back then." Congressman Mike Thompson presented a statement to VP and General Manager Glenn Workmann, which he said had been read into the Congressional Record, to live on forever in the Library of Congress. "Fifty years seems like yesterday," he said before respect- fully thanking Michael, Tim, Marci and Margrit (Robert's widow) for all they've done for the valley and for the wine industry, and rather wistfully added that "the only one missing is Robert." This prompted an emotional response and echoes of, "No he's not!" from throughout the crowd. "You're right," the con- gressman responded. "He is here. He'll always be here! Mondavi has done so much for our valley. He put us on the road to the great things we are doing today." Diane Dylan, the county Supervisor, recalled the ground- breaking of '66: "You could see that things were going to change Dancing and live music were all part of the festivities celebrating the 50th anniversary of Robert Mondavi Winery. Robert Mondavi in the original Robert Mondavi Winery barrel room during a distributor tasting in the late 1970s. Robert Mondavi oversees the first harvest for Robert Mondavi Winery. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY yesterday," fully for wistfully Just released: the new-vintage of Robert Mondavi Winery 2013 To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve includes a commemorative 50th Anniversary label. Historically a collector's wine, it's made all the more collectible this year with the Anniversary label.