L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016 www.italoamericano.org 8 P eter Mondavi Sr., Napa Valley visionary respon- sible for the success of his family's winery for more than 50 years died on February 20th at his home in St. Helena, California. He was 101. M o n d a v i w a s b o r n i n V i r g i n i a , M i n n e s o t a , o n November 8, 1914, to Cesare a n d R o s a G r a s s i M o n d a v i , natives of Sassoferrato in the Marche region of Italy. Typical o f h a r d w o r k i n g i m m i g r a n t s , Rosa ran a boarding house for Italian iron miners while Cesare opened a saloon and later a gro- cery store at the beginning of prohibition. Cesare became a wine-grape buyer, traveling to California to purchase fruit for his home-winemaking fellow I t a l i a n i m m i g r a n t s i n M i n n e s o t a . E v e n t u a l l y t h e growing success of his business resulted in the family's move to Lodi, California, in 1922. The Mondavi brothers spent sum- mers packing 30-pound boxes of z i n f a n d e l g r a p e s a n d h e l p e d their father make their own table wine which Peter Sr. remembers tasting, wine cut with water, from about the age of eight as was the custom in Italian fami- lies. As a young and enterprising giovanetto, Mondavi got his s t a r t n a i l i n g b o x e s f o r h i s father's wine-grape shipping business. He went on to earn a d e g r e e i n e c o n o m i c s f r o m Stanford University in 1937 and later became interested in wine- making research and oenology, the study of all aspects of wine a n d w i n e m a k i n g , a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , Berkeley. Under the guidance of highly-respected educator, Dr. William Vere Cruess, Peter Peter Rudolf Mondavi: The Pioneer of California's Mondavi Family Winery Passes Away at 101 CATHERINE ACCARDI SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY S r . c o n d u c t e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y research on cold fermentation, e n a b l i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f exceptionally crisp, fruity white wines that became the industry standard. "Most of the wines at that time were made at higher temperatures, where they would lose their fruit character through oxidation," Mondavi explained. He served in World War II returning to California in 1946 and marrying Blanche Hurtzig in 1950. They had three children and were married for 60 years until her death in 2010. Mondavi's parents purchased t h e C h a r l e s K r u g W i n e r y i n 1943 marking the family's for- mal entrance into the wine busi- ness. Peter Sr. worked the prop- erty with his family, eventually assuming the role of president a n d C E O u p o n h i s m o t h e r ' s death in 1976. He acquired over 800 acres of premium Napa Valley land in the late 1960s and early 1970s at a mere fraction of current land values. These purchases provid- ed the foundation for the growth and success of the family wine business. He was determined to keep the winery family owned in the midst of rampant corporate buyouts. Over a period of nine years, Mondavi invested $22 million in replanting 400 prime acres of vineyards with primari- ly red Bordeaux varietals, insti- tuting sustainable farming prac- tices and implementing state-of- the-art winemaking equipment in the process. Having had the foresight to purchase and suc- cessfully retain the Charles Krug Mondavi Family winery. The winery achieved double land- mark status, with both National and California landmark desig- nations. Mondavi toured the w i n e r e g i o n s o f E u r o p e and Charles Krug was the first winery in Napa Valley to import French oak barrels for ageing, now a common practice among winemakers. L'Italo-Americano asked the Mondavi family how Peter Sr. credited his Italian heritage to t h e s u c c e s s o f h i s i m p o r t a n t legacy. The family responded, "All things Italian were instilled i n P e t e r S r . b y h i s p a r e n t s , Cesare and Rosa. All things Italian meant good food, wine, and family gatherings around the table. As a result, Peter Sr. cre- ated wines that were meant to be consumed with food. He wanted food wines that people could enjoy." Bestowed with many honors throughout his distinguished career, Peter Sr. was named one of the twelve living legends in Napa Valley wine history by the N a p a V a l l e y V i n t n e r Association in 1989. In 2009 he r e c e i v e d t h e L i f e t i m e Achievement Award for Napa v i n t n e r s f r o m t h e C a l i f o r n i a State Fair. W h e n a s k e d t o n o t e h i s proudest accomplishment, he would reply, "Never losing con- trol of our family winery. If I could, I would tell my father: I did the best I could during the difficult years. I was determined and we held on." T h e f a m i l y b u s i n e s s , C . Mondavi & Family, founded by and named after patriarch Cesare Mondavi, continues to thrive and includes third and fourth g e n e r a t i o n s o f t h e f a m i l y . Today, Mondavi's sons, Marc and Peter Jr., lead the vision for the family winery. Although Peter Mondavi offi- cially retired in 2015, he contin- ued to be involved in the busi- ness, regularly climbing two f l i g h t s o f s t a i r s t o h i s office. When asked what he c r e d i t e d h i s s t a m i n a t o h e replied, "Living a good life and drinking great wine." We now raise our glasses to you, Peter Rudolf Mondavi. Peter Rudolf Mondavi. Courtesy of the Mondavi Family The Charles Krug Peter Mondavi Family Winery. Courtesty of noehill.com

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