Has Robert Mondavi Winery been left behind? Constellation Brands, the spirits industry giant that bought Mondavi in 2004 after the family had largely been pushed out of management, believes there is still Mondavi magic to behold, and for several years has been quietly investing in the hopes of turning the iconic brand into the keystone of its luxury wine division.
The problems at Mondavi are not new. "To be honest, Robert Mondavi Winery has stagnated," says Robert Hanson, who heads Constellation's Wine & Spirits division. "We are repairing a decade of atrophy." The bad seeds were planted in Robert's aggressive expansion over the decades as he strove to realize his vision. The need for cash flow led him to create value-priced brands: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi and what became Robert Mondavi Private Selection. Those labels were successful and helped along Mondavi's dream of turning Americans on to the idea of wine as a daily pleasure. But they also warped the image of the original Robert Mondavi wines. Even today, a consumer might be confused trying to evaluate a bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from all over California and priced at $12 a bottle versus a Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve Cabernet made from the To Kalon Vineyard and priced at $225 a bottle.
Constellation executives have said for years that they wish to better differentiate between the three brands. But when the lower-priced wines are bringing in millions of dollars in revenue each year, thanks in part to having the name of an American wine legend on the label, it's hard to walk away. Just three years ago, Constellation launched a series of television ads with an actor playing Robert Mondavi, leading boldly, striding through vineyards in boots and sunglasses, tasting in his cellar, working to make great wine. The ads were for Woodbridge.
Denne historien er fra November 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
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Denne historien er fra November 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Shipwrecked Champagne Hoard Discovered Near Sweden
It sometimes feels like wine has a habit of falling into the briny deep. On July 23, Polish wreck diver and underwater photographer Tomasz Stachura announced that he and his Baltictech team had discovered the wreck of a 19th-century sailing ship near Öland, an island off the coast of Sweden—and it was crammed with bottles of Champagne and mineral water.
Openings: The Latest in Napa Tasting
Several new tasting options have opened in Napa Valley, particularly in downtown Napa where wineries are launching satellite tasting rooms. Standing out from the crowd means trying new approaches. Here are some highlights:
War in Middle East Affects Vintners
The 2024 harvest at Israel’s Dalton Winery was punctuated by nonstop rocket and drone attacks launched from just across the border in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon.
Wineries Sue Napa County in Federal Court
Three Napa wineries filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in September alleging that Napa County officials violated their constitutional rights.
Savoring Persimmon Season
For many, persimmons are an enigma ingredient. Chef David Nayfeld of Award of Excellence-winning Che Fico in San Francisco and its Best of Award of Excellence sibling dangling persimmons off the tree with a stick at a childhood friend's house before realizing what they were. \"I remember his parents saying, 'Hey, don't hit the persimmons, those are food!\"\"
Tasting Plate: A German Six-Pack
Though it boasts Western Europe’s largest population and biggest economy, Germany is nowhere near the cheese juggernaut its neighbors Switzerland and France are. That said, the Germans love their fine cheeses, and they do turn out some excellent ones, fortunately including more than a handful that are currently available here in the U.S.
Gigondas Blanc Est Arrivé!
Ask winemakers in the Southern Rhône to name the most exciting white grape in their region and you will hear a growing number of them say \"Clairette.\"
Kistler's DARKER SIDE
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ups the ante at the house that Chardonnay built
THE SPLENDOR OF CHAMPAGNE
THE REGION'S LEADING PRODUCERS DELIVER HIGH QUALITY AMID A DIVERSE RANGE OF STYLES
MICHAEL BATTERBERRY: 1932-2010 Gourmet, Journalist, Gentleman
Before Food Network, Top Chef or Yelp ... before the term “foodie\" ... before tomatoes were heirloom and sushi was fast food... back when fancy restaurants were always French... Michael Batterberry and his wife, Ariane, were working to celebrate and elevate the status of American chefs and international cuisine. Julie Mautner, Food Arts' former executive editor, looks at the life and legacy of her late mentor, affectionately known as The Bat.
