Page 88 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY
Sample the best of Napa Valley
B Y M I C H A E L S H A P I R O
DISCOVER
»
ROBERT
MONDAVI
WINERY
robertmondaviwinery.com
(888) 766-6328
ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY, above;
the To Kalon Wine Cellar, below.
LOCATED IN OAKVILLE in the heart of
Napa Valley, the Robert Mondavi Winery
was founded in 1966 with the idea that wine
is an essential element of a life well lived.
By the 1970s, Mondavi’s wines were helping
to elevate Napa’s profile, putting Northern
California’s vintages in a class with the best
bottles from France. Today, many of Mon-
davi’s wines earn 90+ scores and are among
the most sought-after in the world.
Mondavi’s handsome winery, in a ver-
dant valley beneath the tawny hills of the
Mayacamas Mountains, features a range of
tours, tastings and food pairings. Robert
Mondavi believed that wines should reflect
their origins and he had a deft touch bal-
ancing winemaking traditions with
modern manufacturing processes.
Kalon vineyard and cellar, with a taste of
two wines ($30). The Twilight Tour &
Tasting includes an hour of walking through
the vineyard and cellars and a half-hour
tasting ($65). All tours require reservations;
wine club members get discounts.
An exceptional way to pair food and
wine at Robert Mondavi Winery is at their
Harvest of Joy lunch or Garden to Table
dinner ($125, $165). Both include tours fol-
lowed by a sumptuous three-course meal
prepared by Mondavi’s chefs.
Tours and Tastings
The in-depth, 75-minute Signature Tour &
Tasting takes visitors from the vines to the
cellar (including fermentation and barrel
aging) and ends with sampling three fin-
ished wines ($50). It’s offered in English and
Mandarin. The Discovery Tour is a 30-
minute introduction to the historic To
Special Events
Throughout 2020, Mondavi hosts enticing
events. Among them: the Chardonnay and
Crab Feast on Feb. 22, the Wine and Choco-
late Walk-Around Tasting on April 19, Dinner
Under the Stars on Aug. 22, the Autumn Fete
on Sept. 19, and Pinot and Paella on Nov. 7.
The 10th Annual Tree Lighting Benefit
for the Napa Valley Food Bank includes
horse-and-buggy rides, holiday caroling,
hot apple cider and of course wine tasting.
The benefit, on Dec. 5, is free to wine club
members and those bringing a bag of
canned goods for the food bank.
86 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
ROBERT MONDAVI WINNERY