[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ROBERT G. MONDAVI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert G. Mondavi 
on the occasion of his being distinguished as an Honorary Member of the 
Agricultural Leadership Alumni. The award will be bestowed upon Mr. 
Mondavi at the annual conference of this organization.
  Selection for this distinction is ``reserved for special individuals 
who have, over a period of time, demonstrated consistent commitment and 
uncommon excellence in the furtherance of education and leadership in 
California agriculture.''
  Robert was born in Virginia, Minnesota to parents who emigrated from 
the Marche region of Italy. He is a graduate of Stanford University 
with a degree in economics and business administration. Upon 
graduation, Robert joined his father at Sunnyhill Winery in St. Helena 
and later at Charles Krug, where he upgraded the technology of the 
family enterprise, determined to raise quality. Later Mr. Mondavi 
established the first post-Prohibition major winery built in the Napa 
Valley. Robert also pioneered many of the fine winemaking techniques in 
California, including cold fermentation, stainless steel tanks, and the 
use of French oak barrels.
  Mr. Mondavi received the World Trade Club's ``International 
Achievement Award'' for being a leading pioneer in the exportation of 
Premium California wine and being among the first to have a publicly 
traded company. He has also been honored with the first-ever 
``California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award,'' the Wine 
Spectator's first ``Readers' Choice Award'' as ``The Person Who Has 
Done the Most to Enhance Wine's Image,'' and the ``Business Leader of 
the Year'' award from the Harvard Business School Association of 
Northern California. In 2002, Robert was honored by the California 
State Assembly as ``the global emissary of American food and wine'' for 
lifetime achievements on behalf of California wine, food, and arts.
  Mr. Mondavi is recognized as the global emissary of American food and 
wine. His vision was to create wines in California that belong in the 
company of great wines of the world. Having successfully achieved this 
goal, his wisdom as founder and Chairman Emeritus of Robert Mondavi now 
guides his sons and daughter in their leadership of the Robert Mondavi 
family of wines.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert G. Mondavi as an 
Honorary Member of the Agricultural Leadership Alumni. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in wishing Robert Mondavi many years of continued 
success.




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