RIP: Peter Mondavi

[ibglowin]

At least this time its about a long and wonderful life.

Peter Mondavi, Napa Valley pioneer, dies at 101

 

[bkisel]

101, assuming relatively good health, is a very good run. I wonder if drinking wine contributed to his long life?

 

[Floandgary]

101, assuming relatively good health, is a very good run. I wonder if drinking wine contributed to his long life?

YES ,,,,, Yes it did!!!

 

[JohnT]

I know very well the story of the big falling out between Peter and his brother Robert. It was all over a fur coat...

Robert and Peter Mondavi's father purchased the Charles Krug winery to set his young sons up in life (The name of the Winery was changed to Modavi CK).

Robert was the salesman and Peter was the production guy (winemaker). The two brothers tried to mimic the relationship and roles that the Gallo brothers had (I will sell all the wine you make and you make all the wine I can possibly sell).

Unfortunately, what worked for the Gallos did not work so well for the Mondavi brothers. Peter began to resent the fact that Robert was hob knobbing it at fancy dinners and events while Peter was stuck doing all the "hard work". Peter did not see that this "hob knobbing" was absolutely required in order to generate sales. Peter was also very resentful of the fact that only Robert had an expense account..

Then came the spark that lit the fuse.

Robert was invited to the White house to meet the Kennedys. Robert's wife freaked out the she had nothing to wear to Camelot. Robert then purchased a fur coat and paid for it through the expense account.

That was it! When Peter found out about this, he confronted Robert. An angry exchange ensued ending with a punch being thrown by Robert.

The aftermath was that the family decided to vote out Robert and give control of the winery (Krug) to Peter. Robert, feeling jaded, started his own winery (The Robert Mondavi Winery) and even began pronouncing his name differently (changing "A" from a hard "AE" to a soft "AH" sound).

There is a happy ending. Before Robert died, he and Peter got together to create a limited run of wine that was sold for astronomical prices all to support a local charity.

It was nice to see that after all the years of bitterness, they were able to put their differences aside and reunite. I had the same sort of experience with one of my brothers and we too reconciled our differences and now share a great relationship...

Good bye Peter. Rest in Peace. I hope that the grapes in heaven have high brix and low PH!!

 

[ibglowin]

Nice write up in WS today. No mention about the big "Family Feud"!

Peter Mondavi, Napa Valley Wine Pioneer, Dies at 101

 

[JohnT]

Nice write up in WS today. No mention about the big "Family Feud"!

Peter Mondavi, Napa Valley Wine Pioneer, Dies at 101

Here is a write up about the feud and also them coming together to make wine for charity...

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/8038907/n...others-make-wine-together-again/#.Vsy1kE32bX4

 

[Julie]

I read the book The House of Mondavi. Very good read.

 

[Deezil]

The House of Mondavi.
Yes.

If you know who this man is, and haven't read that book - you need to!

RIP Mr. Mondavi
I hope you found your brother.

 

[JohnT]

There are a number of book out there but house of mondavi was by far the best.

There are a lot of stories like the Mondavis coming out of Napa. Pick up a biography of the Gallo brothers. Their story is good too.