The 2008 vintage began with above normal rainfall but then was followed by one of the driest springs on record. April frosts threatened but vigilant vineyard managers protected the crop from severe damage. Dry winds during bloom and berry set reduced yields and then, finally, Mother Nature looked kindly on our vines and provided an excellent ripening season. Because of the lighter crop, harvest came a bit early with the last Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripening in mid-October.

For more than 40 years, Robert Mondavi Winery has been the symbol of Napa Valley. Founded in 1966, it was the first major winery built in Napa Valley in the three decades following the repeal of the Prohibition (1933), and went on to establish the foundation for modern California winemaking. Robert Mondavi Winery’s mission-style architecture, with the expansive archway and bell tower designed by Cliff May, has become an enduring landmark that honors California’s history. The goal of Robert Mondavi Winery has always been to produce wines that stand in the company of the greatest wines of the world. With the philosophy that great wines reflect their origins, Robert Mondavi Winery pursues the fullest expression of the terroir of its Napa Valley vineyards: the historic To Kalon Vineyard in the Oakville American Viticultural Area (AVA), and the Wappo Hill Vineyard in the Stags Leap District AVA.