In the carriage house within the extensive grounds of his famous Charles Krug Winery, the Bailliage of Napa-Sonoma honoured Peter Mondavi Sr. at a special “solo” induction on February 28, 2015, performed by Bailli Délégué Harold Small.

There have been only two people previously honoured in this manner: His Holiness Pope Francis I, and Paul Bocuse, the renowned chef from Lyon, France. Peter Mondavi is now the most senior member of the Chaîne in the world (he turned 100 years old on November 8, 2014).

Immediately following the induction into the Chaîne, Shelly Margolis, Grand Échanson Honoraire of the USA, inducted his friend, Peter, into Société Mondiale du Vin (the USA’s equivalent of the international Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs). Witnessing this further induction were Bailli Délégué Harold Small, and from the Bailliage of Napa-Sonoma, Bailli Gene Daly and Vice-Échanson Ron Fenolio.

When Peter was born in 1914, no one could have imagined that the youngest son of Italian immigrants would pioneer the planting of vineyards of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, California, and become one of its most revered figures.

He graduated from Stanford University in 1938 and then studied oenology at the University of California, Berkeley. Named one of twelve “Living Legends” in 1999 by the Napa Valley Vintners Association for his industry innovations and one of only 31 members of the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintner’s Hall of Fame, Peter enabled the production of exceptionally crisp, fruity white wines and revolutionized cold fermentation, cold sterile filtration techniques and the aging wine in small French oak barrels.

Since the early 1980’s Peter’s two sons, Marc and Peter Jr., both Professionnel du Vin members of the Chaîne, have assumed major roles and continue to implement the Mondavi vision ensuring their family legacy continues to thrive through their own children – the fourth generation of the Mondavi family: Riana, Alycia and Angelina who are also Professionnels du Vin. Furthermore their mother, Janice was inducted as a Professionnel du Vin in the winery prior to the formal festivities, bringing Chaîne membership full circle.

Marie Addario, Vice-Chargée de Presse Nationale
Editor-in-Chief "Gastronome" & "Gastonome Extra!"