Shop Talk

It’s a rare thing when California’s influential Mondavi wine family gathers for public events. So, when several generations of Mondavis held a reunion dinner and auction this week, they had the attention of wine lovers. 

About 110 people paid $500 each to attend the gala, which was co-hosted by the Mondavis and Morton’s Steakhouse for the benefit of the Make-A-Wish Foundation , at Charles Krug Winery’s historic carriage house in Napa Valley on Thursday. The event also was broadcast to about 50 Morton’s private dining rooms around the United States.  

The parents of Robert and Peter Mondavi bought Charles Krug Winery, the original family estate, in 1943. Robert founded his own winery in 1966, while Peter acquired full ownership of Charles Krug in 1976. An epic rift split the family for decades, but recently has been smoothed over.

To mark this week’s festivities, the second and third generations of Mondavi wine makers produced a red wine blend with the Italian name Siamo Insieme, which translates in English to “We are Together”.  The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend represents Continuum Estate, Charles Krug and the Michael Mondavi Family Winery.

A 27-liter “Primat” bottle of Siamo Insieme 2008 sold at Thursday’s auction for $25,000. A Primat is one of the largest available wine bottle sizes and contains 36 standard bottles of wine. 

Proceeds from Thursday’s event are estimated to be $105,000. 

Worried you missed out on the festivities with American wine’s royal family? A second Primat of Siamo Insieme will be up for auction through Oct. 30 . One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish.

(Photo of Peter Mondavi Sr with a Primat bottle courtesy of Morton’s)