NAPA 101

Quote of the week

"If your heart is warm with happiness, 

you'll need a glass - if sorrow chills your heart, have two!"

Hannu

Last week for a friend birthdaywe drove to Napa valley to talk and explore for a couple of days. Naturally we visited a few wineries.

The 1^st was Robert Mondavi Winery

“To succeed and have a happy life, you need common sense, a commitment to hard work and the courage to go your own way.”

Robert Mondavi 

At the age of 53, with full of energy and vision,Robert Mondavi decided to build his winery post-prohibition during a very tenuous, unstable time. 

In 1966 near Oakville, California, he was open the door to the future of American fine wine.

The warm, earth-toned arms of the Robert Mondavi Winery’s an homage to California’s early missions, with the expansive archway and bell tower designed by architect Cliff May, has become and enduring landmark that evokes California winemaking history

The magnificent view of the To Kalon Vineyard and the Mayacamas Mountains

Aside from the grand missions architecture Mondavi has one of the best private art collections and furniture.

Mission style furniture inspired by a chair that had been designed for the Swedenborg Ian Church of the New Jerusalem in San Francisco, circa 1894-1985. The mission chair was a dark wood and clean lines without excessive curves or ornamentation.

Gustav Stickley (Stickly) was the most well-known and respected manufacturer of mission style furniture.

Many of the pieces had transitional designs that combined both Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau styles, but by 1900 the mission designs of Stickley and Roy croft became straighter lined and developed into the familiar mission style.

The Robert Mondavi Winery is now owned by Constellation Brands, but they have the same staff and the Mondavi family still owns numerous other wineries in the valley.

Wishing you peace and joy..