110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 84

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; 
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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 

French-American 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 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; 
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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

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress honors the life of Robert 

3 Mondavi, a true pioneer and a patriarch of the California 

4 wine industry. 

Passed the Senate June 16, 2008. 

Attest:

Secretary. 
110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 84

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Honoring the memory of Robert Mondavi.