Campus Officials Comment on Robert Mondavi's Legacy at UC Davis

University of California, Davis
May 16, 2008

Robert Mondavi, patriarch of the California wine industry, was one of the most ardent and generous supporters of the University of California, Davis.

As an expression of his desire to improve not only California's wines, but also its quality of life, Mr. Mondavi generously supported cultural and educational institutions. At UC Davis, his contributions established the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science and the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

In 2001, Robert and Margrit Mondavi gave $25 million to help establish the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, which is scheduled to open in October, and $10 million to help launch the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2002 and is now a regional performing arts landmark.

In June 2004, UC Davis presented Robert and Margrit Mondavi with the UC Davis Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the university. "I am delighted to award the UC Davis Medal to them for all that they have done for this university, for the state, for everyone desiring a meaningful and enriched life," Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef said at the time. "I can't imagine more deserving recipients."

Indeed, Mr. Mondavi had been a well-respected and appreciated member of the UC Davis community for years before that. In 1988, for example, UC Davis faculty invited Mr. Mondavi to take a prestigious position as Regents Lecturer.

Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science

The Mondavis' $25 million donation was combined with campus funds and other private contributions to create new state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities to house the UC Davis departments of viticulture and enology as well as food science and technology. Both departments are part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The institute's first three research and instruction buildings — comprising 129,600 square feet — are nearing completion. The institute's grand opening is scheduled for October. A wine and food-processing laboratory will be established adjacent to the first three buildings.

Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

The Mondavi Center includes the 1,800-seat Jackson Hall and the 250-seat Studio Theatre. The center presents music, dance, lectures and theater productions. Jackson Hall and the Studio Theatre are both equipped with state-of-the art stage, lighting and acoustic capabilities.

The Mondavi Center serves as a resource for the campus and the region, raising the profile of the campus's arts and humanities programs to that of its top-ranked science programs.

The following UC Davis leaders comment about Mr. Mondavi, his commitment to UC Davis, wine and the arts, and his passing.

UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef: "Bob has demonstrated that innovation and excellence are worthy and reachable goals, that universities are deserving of investment, that the sciences and the arts are essential and compatible companions, and that each of us — no matter our calling in life — is capable of and responsible for creating a legacy. There is no doubt that his legacy is substantial and enduring."

Neal Van Alfen, dean of UC Davis' College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: "Robert Mondavi worked ardently to improve grape and wine production in California, and he recognized the benefits of agricultural research and education for everyone. Robert and Margrit's generosity benefits all Californians and will live on in the annals of the University of California."

Clare Hasler, executive director of UC Davis' Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science: "We are extremely saddened by the passing of Robert Mondavi, a man who almost single-handedly transformed the California wine industry and raised the profile of American wine in the eyes of the world. Mr. Mondavi's extraordinary gift, establishing the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at UC Davis, will serve as an enduring reminder of his passion for the importance of wine and food in enhancing the quality of life. It also opens a new era of opportunity for the university's widely acclaimed wine and food programs for generations to come."

Don Roth, executive director of UC Davis' Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts: "Robert was a great friend to the Mondavi Center and to the arts, and we all will miss him. We owe it to Robert and Margrit Mondavi's vision, leadership and generosity for ensuring that the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts became a reality. Their willingness to take a lead in supporting the center inspired the generosity of many others. Their presence in the center for a variety of events demonstrated their passion and commitment to great art. The stature of Robert and Margrit Mondavi ensured that the Mondavi Center would very quickly catch the attention of the arts world nationally and internationally."

Andrew Waterhouse, chair of the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology: "We are greatly saddened to hear that Mr. Mondavi, a lifelong friend of UC Davis, passed away today. We have had the honor to be associated with him, and we appreciate his strong support for public education. As just one example, Mr. Mondavi allowed our students to conduct experiments in his hallowed To Kalon vineyard in the Napa Valley. In support of his vision for excellence, he created the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, a bequest that has taken our programs fully into the 21st century. It is a living tribute to his foresight and generosity. Our contacts with Margrit, and his children and grandchildren will sustain his friendship and vision into the future. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family."

Charlie Bamforth, chair of the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology: "Vision, passion, determination and verve. All words to describe a wine legend, Robert Mondavi."

Memorial Contributions

The Mondavi family has requested that any contributions made to UC Davis in Robert Mondavi's memory be designated for the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science (RMI). Checks may be written to the UC Davis Foundation and annotated "RMI." If you would prefer to give a gift online - https://awc.ucdavis.edu/MakeAGift.aspx?alloc=322552

Media contact(s):

• Mitchel Benson, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-9844, mdbenson@ucdavis.edu
• Pat Bailey, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu

Mondavi's gifts to UC Davis opened a new era

Larry N. Vanderhoef
Monday, May 19, 2008
(This article appeared on page B - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle)

We at UC Davis wish to pay tribute to a magnificent man of compelling vision, Robert Mondavi. Like a university, Robert was always guided by an inherent spirit of discovery and the pursuit of excellence. In fact, he acted and thought as if his winery were a university and he a curious and passionate professor. Mondavi shared his discoveries with everyone. His goal wasn't simply to better the bottom line, but to pioneer the California wine-making techniques that ultimately yielded worldwide recognition. Much has been written about his entrepreneurial spirit. Indeed, we at UC Davis have been honored by our association with Mondavi and our parallel paths of progress and innovation.

In 2001, Mondavi and his wife, Margrit, gave $25 million to help establish the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, which is scheduled to open in October, and $10 million to help launch the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2002 and is now a regional performing arts landmark.

Indeed, Mondavi and his family have given much to UC Davis, and not just through his time and financial support, but also through the association of the Mondavi name. His generosity touched so much of the transformational research, stellar teaching and superb programs that this campus offers today.

That's why, in June 2004, UC Davis presented Robert and Margrit Mondavi with the UC Davis Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the university. But what I will treasure most about our friendship with Bob Mondavi was his sense of destiny.

I remember him saying once, "If you wish to succeed, you must listen to yourself, to your own heart, and have the courage to go your own way, to find the right direction." There's no doubt that Mondavi accomplished his mission - to the betterment of the university, the wine industry, agriculture, the state of California - and beyond. And the Mondavis' belief in UC Davis emboldened each of us to reach even higher.

Through his leadership, Mondavi truly opened a new era of opportunity for UC Davis. We are deeply grateful for his inspiration. He believed that our university was worthy of his support. He was convinced that the sciences and the arts were essential companions. He reassured each of us - no matter our calling in life - that we were capable of and responsible for creating a magnificent and enduring legacy.

Today, the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts stands as a sparkling monument to all who embrace the arts. Across the street, the soon-to-be-opened Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science is an inspiring testament to Robert's bold aspirations. There is no doubt that Robert's legacy for many cultural and educational institutions has been substantial and enduring. But in the end, we are most grateful for his faith in UC Davis, and for his friendship.

Larry N. Vanderhoef is the chancellor of the University of California, Davis.