The past century has brought myriad incarnations of what we’ve come to call the Proust Questionnaire. Based on the late nineteenth century contemplations of French writer, Marcel Proust — subsequent adaptations have been issued by the French journalist, Bernard Pivot; Inside the Actor’s Studio host, James Lipton; and most recently, Vanity Fair, which has been revealing the intimacies of cultural figures for more than two decades. Given the singular nature of our community, we felt it was high time to shed some light on our own icons. With a humble tip of the hat to those who’ve come before us, please meet Rob Mondavi.
To say that he was born into a family that typifies Napa Valley winemaking would be a severe understatement, but Rob hit the ground running from a very young age and has established himself as a tour de force in an elite collection of winegrowing families. We caught up with him recently and wanted to find out a little more about what drives him. Please enjoy getting to know Rob as it has been our pleasure to do so.
Ah-ha moment: What bottle and/or event changed your life (opened your eyes). Where/when?
Mark de Vere, my friend and Master of Wine, was kind enough to help educate me in the world of wine. Exploring beyond the joyous confines of Napa wine was exciting, yet the show-stopping wine was the 1997 Chateau Rayas. The moment I brought the glass to my nose, I was captivated with the completely unique floral and earthy aromatics; the flavors of cherry and flower petals stopped time and I realized that there were infinite possibilities of wine styles. While Napa would always be my center, there is much to explore and savor.
What you’re drinking right now?
Recently, I have been enjoying the Bruno Giacosa Arneis, a stunning fresh white wine from the Piedmonte region of Italy.
Your most memorable pairing(s)?
In my teen years, one evening I was staying with my grandfather, Robert “Bob” Mondavi, while my parents were traveling. Bob and Margrit seared lamb chops that had been rubbed with sea salt and brushed with olive oil using a fresh rosemary bunch accompanied with simple quartered and roasted potatoes. We shared two wines together, a 1978 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and a 1980 Mouton Rothchild. The evening with Bob, Margrit, and myself was intimate, personal. He was sharing his life through food and wine, sharing two unique regions that are profoundly different yet both complement one another. Through our talk and tasting, he was making a point that diversity and integrity were truly important in life.
Your guilty pleasure(s)?
My guilty pleasure is a night at home with an epic bottle of red and a homemade, wood-fired sausage pizza.
Who are you following (wine or otherwise)?
Instagram: @robmondavi
@rutledgeandvine
Clubhouse Audio: Winemakers Den
What you’re listening to right now?
Chris Pierce www.chrispierce.com @iamchrispierce is by far the most remarkable modern-day artist: a soulful, heartfelt vibe with the voice of a sultry angel. I think Chris is the best-kept secret in the musical world. When I say this, you must keep in mind that I grew up meeting and listening to the greatest jazz legends at the Robert Mondavi summer concert series throughout my entire life, so check Chris out.
Favorite book and/or movie, and why?
Let’s start with the book. I recently went on a cross-country road trip with my family and my oldest son — 9 years old, and I listened to Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea.” I watched my son fall in love with characters and feel the unique bond, their struggles, defeat, and human ability to stand back up. Since then, he has read the book on his own and we have reread it at our nighttime tuck-in. The fact that one of my old favorites engaged and inspired my son places this classic piece of literature back on top.
Pete Dexter’s “Spooner” was a different style of somewhat autobiographical fiction that I found cleverly written and engaging. I chuckled, laughed out loud, cringed, and was inspired by sadness at times. The book was a very enjoyable read.
Author (wine or otherwise), and why?
Although I have not met Jancis Robinson, I really like her style of wine writing and her direct poignant approach. As to literature, I come back to Hemingway at different times in my life, yet he can be frustrating at times with his mysteriously focused yet ridiculously long sentences. Take a look at “Green Hills of Africa,” even if you have read it or not, and definitely revisit “The Old Man and the Sea.”
What must you always have at arms-length?
A fishing pole, champagne, cabernet, and bourbon!
What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?
A perfect weekend starts with a Saturday morning of fishing with my family, a little sailing in our tiny dinghy in the afternoon, followed by an evening with friends sharing stunning red wine and a couple of steaks on the grill.
What wine(s) are you drinking?
Laurenz V Gruner Veltliner for a fresh delicious easy-drinking white. Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne because it is vibrant, delicious, and my wife loves it. Emblem, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, as it is a lovely, balanced, and medium-bodied wine I make myself. Giacosa Barolo because of its elegance. And lastly — a guilty pleasure — the decadent and fleshy Clos de L’Oratoire des Papes.
What spirit(s) are you drinking?
Wellers Antique 107: It has a nice balance between oak, sweetness, a textured mid-body, and nuttiness. The alcohol has a brilliant balance where it is present yet never hot. Great value for a well-crafted, small lot.
Wine figure you most admire (living or otherwise)?
André Tchelistcheff was a mentor to the greatest generation of winemaking legends. He taught them and inspired them. He is due much more credit and recognition than he has received.
Wine figure you’d most like to share a meal with (living or otherwise)?
I’d like to have another meal with my Grandfather Robert “Bob” Mondavi, now, as an adult, a father, and seasoned professional. There are so many questions I have about his life and decisions. I’d like to know which sacrifices he felt were worth the cost and which were not. I want to discover more about the softer man, the man behind the forward-facing, always “on,” passionate and iconic maverick. We had a couple of deep talks in my late 20’s and I think that if we could have another with my additional experience that it would be life-changing. Perhaps he might visit in my dreams...
What is something that few people know about you?
I am actually a bit more introverted than people would imagine. I can’t stand crowds, and I am perfectly content fishing for hours on end by myself, or making sandcastles with my two boys! I like a Gin Fizz before breakfast, but never after, and only on very special occasions. “I love the smell of Gin in the morning. It smells like victory!”
How do you achieve balance?
For me to have balance I need to retreat a little from the world. For that, I need to find time to be with family, without the phone or computer, to have a lazy day tinkering around the house, cooking, and hanging out with my immediate family or close friends.
Favorite wine list in the world?
Trattoria Cammillo in Firenze, a winemaker’s restaurant where you will find nearly every Tuscan winemaking family dining at some point during the week. Chiara, the owner, curated the list to reflect the deep relationships they have established over decades with some wonderful surprises. Domestically, I love Bern’s Steak House in Tampa. Bern’s has an amazing selection of current, as well as a library of selections from around the world so it is a fun treasure trove to explore.
Barrel-list: The remaining must-do(s) on your list?
I want to see my kids married with children, experience a walking/horseback journey through Africa, and go fly fishing in Russia for their giant salmon. I also want to take a trip to India, Bali, and the Maldives.
What are your most unlikely food and wine pairing?
Champagne and Indian cuisine: There is something magical about this as the acidity and effervescence of the Champagne pops, and refreshes your pallet, allowing for the vibrancy, depth, and warmth of the Indian cuisine to show its amazing complexity.
What beverage/wine/varietal have you never worked with that you would like to before you retire?
Grenache: yet truly old vine Grenache. Something from the Chateau Rayas Vineyard… Pipe dream, yet who knows?
What do you drink after a long day of harvest/work, that is not your product?
After a long day of harvest and winery work we typically have an ice-cold and super clean lager. Actually, I really enjoy a Kirin. If that does not work, a Gin with sparse tonic always works!
The following questions are meant to be high/low contrasts, please answer accordingly.
Your favorite place to dine?
I have always enjoyed Japanese cuisine, and Masa in New York offers an extraordinary dining experience. Their sushi is pristine, their other presentations are extraordinary, and the wine list is truly divine.
Your favorite place to eat?
Casually, I really enjoy Mr. Jiu’s in San Francisco for their amazing Chinese cuisine. Brandon Jew makes their specialty vinegar and fermented bean paste in-house, their ingredients are perfectly prepared, and the flavors are out of this world. The best meal I had in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Sadly, I have not been there in 2020. (In 2017, we evacuated during the Napa fires to our friends’ house Beth and Alan Dye. They invited us along on their date night, so we left the kids with their sitter and one of the most stressful days in my life became one of my favorite memories of friendship and culinary delights. Also important to note is that later that evening Alan gave us some pointers on the label design of Rutledge and Vine!!)
Your favorite place to drink?
Oh, well, this is a loaded question!!! If you mean my favorite place to drink a glass of wine and contemplate life treasures and mysteries, that would be on our porch in Napa overlooking the Eastern hills at sunset cuddled up with my wife. If you mean, drink as in let’s-tear-it-up-a-bit: a small gathering of friends, great wine, a guitar, and a lot of bourbons is all that’s needed. The place doesn’t matter.
