Commonwealth Club: Michael Mondavi and the Making of Napa Valley

Today, California’s wine industry creates about $84 billion in economic activity in the state, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributing billions in state and federal taxes. Join us for an inside look at the deals, drama and drive behind one of America’s greatest wine dynasties when Michael Mondavi comes to the Club. Michael Mondavi has been at the center of some of the most famous events in the wine world over the past 60 years. From growing up at Charles Krug and launching Robert Mondavi Winery to creating joint ventures with the Rothschilds of Bordeaux and the Frescobaldis of Tuscany, Michael was in the room where it happened. While his father, Robert, was the visionary, Michael was the “get-it-done guy”―the man tasked with turning his father’s grand ideas into reality. Hear the behind-the-scenes story of that memorable day just before Thanksgiving in 1965, when his father called him at university to say they had both been thrown out of Charles Krug Winery—and into the planning of the winery that would become one of the most famous in the world. From the creation of Opus One, Luce, and Sena to the tough business lessons from the expansion into Languedoc and of Copia, as well as the deals that cemented Robert Mondavi’s place alongside the great wine producers of the world, Mondavi provides an insider look at how the industry really works. In Deals Drama Drive, he offers an insider’s perspective on building a global wine business, navigating family dynamics, managing partnerships, overcoming setbacks, and learning from mistakes. His story offers valuable insights into leadership, entrepreneurship, ambition, and the realities of building and sustaining a successful business. From the Robert Mondavi Winery sale to Constellation, to his subsequent career with Folio Fine Wine Partners, Michael looks back with clear eyes at the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned. Enjoy a post-program book signing and wine-tasting.