S. Con. Res. 84 Agreed to September 27, 2008 

One Hundred Tenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and eight 

Concurrent Resolution 

Whereas Robert Mondavi, a much-loved and admired man of many 

talents, passed away on May 16, 2008, at the age of 94; 

Whereas Robert Mondavi will be fondly and most famously remembered for his work in producing and promoting California wines 

on an international scale; 

Whereas Robert Gerald Mondavi was born to Italian immigrant 

parents, Cesare and Rosa, on June 18, 1913, in Virginia, Minnesota, and his family later moved to Lodi, California, where 

he attended Lodi High School; 

Whereas after graduating from Stanford University in 1937 with 

a degree in economics and business administration, Robert 

Mondavi joined his father and younger brother Peter in running 

the Charles Krug Winery in the Napa Valley of California; 

Whereas Robert Mondavi left Krug Winery in 1965 to establish 

his own winery in the Napa Valley, and, in 1966, motivated 

by his vision that California could produce world-class wines, 

he founded the first major winery built in Napa Valley since 

Prohibition: the Robert Mondavi Winery; 

Whereas in the late 1960s, the release of the Robert Mondavi 

Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon opened the eyes of the world to 

the potential of the Napa Valley region; 

Whereas Robert Mondavi introduced new and innovative techniques 

of wine production, such as the use of stainless steel tanks to 

produce wines like his now-legendary Fume ́ Blanc; 

Whereas as a tireless advocate for California wine and food, and 

the Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi was convinced that California 

wines could compete with established European brands, and his 

confidence in the potential of Napa Valley wines was confirmed 

in 1976 when California wines defeated some well-known French 

vintages at the historic Paris Wine Tasting, or ‘‘Judgment of 

Paris’’, wine competition; 

Whereas in the late 1970s, Robert Mondavi created the first FrenchAmerican wine venture when he joined with Baron Philippe de 

Rothschild in creating the Opus One Winery in Oakville, which 

produced its first vintage in 1979; 

Whereas the success of the Robert Mondavi Winery, and the many 

international ventures Robert Mondavi pursued, allowed him to 

donate generously to various charitable causes, including the 

Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science and Robert 
S. Con. Res. 84—2 

and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, both affiliated with the University of California, Davis, and the establishment of the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts; 

Whereas those who knew Robert Mondavi recognized him as a 

uniquely passionate and brilliant man who took pride in promoting causes that he held close to his heart; 

Whereas Robert Mondavi’s work as an ambassador for wine will 

be remembered fondly by all those whose lives he touched; and 

Whereas Robert Mondavi will be deeply missed in the Napa Valley, 

in California, and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress honors the life of Robert Mondavi, a true 

pioneer and a patriarch of the California wine industry. 

Attest: 

Secretary of the Senate. 

Attest: 

Clerk of the House of Representatives.