Robert Mondavi, the man hailed as the ambassador of the Napa Valley and the godfather of California wine, died today at his home in Yountville at the age of 94.

“It’s possible that had there been no Robert Mondavi, there would be no California wine industry as we know it,” said Vic Motto of MKF, wine business consultants in St. Helena.

The winery that bears his name is now part of the portfolio of wine and spirits giant Constellation Brands.

Mondavi leaves a legacy that reaches far greater than just that winery. For years, he captured the imaginations of wine producers, urging them to compete with the world’s best, and of wine drinkers, opening their eyes to how this simple beverage could enrich their daily lives.

“Bob gave a new sense of where we could go in this valley with his aspirations and his energy,” said Warren Winiarski, owner of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and the first winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery. “You wanted to be at his side because things were happening.”

RIP Robert

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