Margrit Mondavi
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Margrit Biever Mondavi is Vice President of Cultural Affairs at Robert Mondavi Winery. A pioneering woman of the modern-day California wine industry, she joined the winery in 1967, pursuing a life-long interest in uniting wine with fine arts, music and culinary artistry. Under her direction, Robert Mondavi Winery developed original cultural and culinary arts programs that are now benchmarks for the wine world.
“She created a showplace for painters, sculptors, photographers, jazz and classical musicians and the great chefs and winemakers of the world,” said Robert G. Mondavi.
[edit] Childhood in Switzerland
A native of Appenzell, Switzerland, Margrit was raised in her family home overlooking Lake Maggiore, in the canton of Ticino. Margrit’s aesthetic nature was nurtured by parents with a passion for opera and symphonic music, good wine and fine food.
Once or twice a year, her family took the train to Milan for an evening of opera at La Scala. Her mother was a fine cook
and avid gardener, and her father kept a treasured wine cellar.
“My father gave my brother, sister and me an appreciation of just the right Beaujolais or Fendant, telling us stories
about the wine regions and vintages. He made wine something special,” said Margrit.
She studied art at Minusio, an art school in Switzerland, under a professor who had been a student of Hans Hoffman.
[edit] Working at the Mondavi Winery
When Margrit started working at Robert Mondavi Winery, there were very few visitors frequenting Napa Valley.
“I had a dream to show wine with art, music and food,” said Margrit, who is a working artist.
“We began modestly, with a Sunday art show under the arches, accompanied by wine and food.”
Gradually, the fine arts program evolved to the stature it holds today, with Margrit encouraging talented unknown artists
and supporting established ones such as Richard Diebenkorn, Wayne Thiebaud and Nathan Oliveira.
[edit] Margrit Founded the Mondavi Winery's Summer Music Festival
Margrit founded the winery’s popular Summer Music Festival in 1969 as a benefit for the Napa Valley Symphony. This concert series has hosted some of the world’s most recognized jazz, R&B and pop artists. Headliners have included Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte and Tony Bennett. The Mondavi Summer Jazz Festival always opens with the famed New Orleans Jazz Band Preservation Hall. “I am very proud we have contributed to the success of the Napa Valley Symphony through our annual donation,” said Margrit. “Now this beautiful valley has a beautiful symphony.”
[edit] Winter Classical Concert at the Mondavi Winery
In 1984, the Festival of Winter Classical Concert Series was created, with the proceeds benefiting local musical organizations like the Napa Valley Opera. Together with Veronica di Rosa, Margrit and a small group of other dedicated Napa Valley art lovers formed a board of directors to rebuild the original 19th-century opera house in the city of Napa. She organized fundraising events, including art auctions, to keep the opera house alive. In 1998, the opera raised significant funds for the restoration as part of a challenge grant from Margrit and Robert Mondavi; the renovated opera house opened in October 2002.
[edit] Margrit Introduced Cooking Classes at the Mondavi Winery
After ten years at the winery, Margrit introduced a program of cooking classes to develop guests’ appreciation of great food paired with fine wine. She introduced the Great Chefs of France and the Great Chefs of America programs—internationally respected culinary series that are now known simply as Great Chefs at Robert Mondavi Winery.
“Like painting and music, wine and food speak to the heart,” said Margrit. “By honoring the world of the senses, of memory and emotions, the rites of the table express our humanity.” The respect for California wines that has resulted from this program, especially among European chefs like Paul Bocuse and Jean Troisgros, give Margrit a great sense of pride.
[edit] Margrit's Award Winning Cookbook Annie and Margrit
In May 2003, Margrit and her daughter Annie Roberts, then the Robert Mondavi Winery’s executive chef, released a collection of their recipes and stories called Annie and Margrit: Recipes and Stories from the Robert Mondavi Kitchen (Ten Speed Press) to rave reviews. In early 2004, the mother-daughter team took home the 2003 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards’ “Best in the World” distinction in the “Best Easy Recipes Book” category.
[edit] Margrit and Robert Mondavi's Philanthropy
Married to Robert Mondavi since 1980, Margrit traveled with him around the world. Upholding the family’s philosophy that all the arts contribute to an enhanced quality of life, the couple works together as founding patrons of COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts. Margrit played a key role in securing the downtown Napa location for the center, which opened in November 2001, sparking the artistic life of the city.
Also in 2001, Margrit and Robert made a substantial personal gift to the University of California at Davis to establish the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, and to launch the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts which opened in October 2002. In addition, the couple continue to support the Oxbow School, a new art school in Napa that gives grants to and provides instruction for art students in their junior year of high school.
[edit] Margrit the Working Artist
A working artist, Margrit chooses watercolors, crayons and acrylic paints as her media, drawing upon artifacts for inspiration. Applying her talent to commercial design, she created a line of home accessory designs exclusively for Robert Mondavi Winery.
The collection includes table and kitchen linens, wine sleeves and bottles containing Robert Mondavi Winery’s olive oil and wine vinegar; these items are available at the winery.
[edit] Margrit's Art Collection at the Robert Mondavi Winery
Margrit began collecting art for the winery in the 1970s. Some of the world famous art that is on display at
the Robert Modavi Winery includes:
 Beniamino Bufano's St. Francis statue at the winery entrance |
 Beniamino Bufano: Bear statue at winery entrance |
 Beniamino Bufano: Camels statues |
 Garibaldi Fountain |
[edit] Margrit Mondavi, an Accomplished Linguist
An accomplished linguist, Margrit often translated her husband’s speeches for international audiences. Margrit enjoys bringing the family together with her cooking, and ensures each mealtime is a true celebration.
[edit] See also
- COPIA
- Oxbow School
- University of California at Davis
- Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts, UCDavis
