For a brief and magical hour Robert Mondavi came back to life in a room filled with WineSpirit participants eager to hear his insights and wisdom 12 years after he recorded a video visit with WineSpirit leaders exploring his life story and attitudes that shaped him and in turn energized a generation of wine enthusiasts. On Sunday, April 19 at Vineyard Vista, original home to WineSpirit on Silverado Trail, the first of a number of videos made with wine elders and sages over the years was shared as attendees munched on popcorn, cheese and crackers and some lovely wines contributed by WineSpirit members and winemakers. After viewing brief segments of Robert's fascinating insights, the video was paused and the group added their reflections on what they saw and heard with comments that included unique stories of meeting Robert. Attendees shared their responses to the video, and values he espoused were fleshed out in vibrant conversation. Among those attending was Tim Hanni, author of the seminal work, Why You Like The Wines You Like. How inspiring it was to hear Robert express the kinds of attitudes that Tim has been teaching, that everyone tastes uniquely and that enjoyment of wine is as personal as the uniqueness of our relationships and tastes for life.
Our next WineSpirit gathering will be a memory in the making as Paul Dolan joins us at Frogs Leap on Sunday, June 28 for an exploration of Mysteries in the Vineyard. We look forward to seeing you there...
