Honor from Wine Enthusiast Magazine Reflects Past Achievements, Continuing Innovations and Successes in Wine Industry
NAPA VALLEY, CA, November 4th , 2015 — Yesterday, Michael Mondavi, iconic vintner and entrepreneur, was announced as the 2015 ‘Person of the Year’ for Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s prestigious #WineStar Awards (www.winemag.com/Wine-Star-Awards). “His relentless drive to innovate and continue learning, community spirit, and generosity with colleagues and employees make Michael one of the brightest stars in our industry,” said Adam Strum, publisher and editor of Wine Enthusiast. “He is a person of great integrity and truly an ‘eternal student of wine.’”
The Wine Star ‘Person of the Year’ award comes at a momentous time for Michael. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary since his first harvest and the 10th vintage of ‘M by Michael Mondavi’, as well as the 10th anniversary of Folio Fine Wine Partners (www.foliowine.com).
Michael has had a long and storied career in the wine industry, starting with winemaking and viticulture at the Robert Mondavi Winery (1966 – 1974) and continuing as CEO of his family’s company, which he took public with a successful IPO in 1993. After the sale of the Robert Mondavi Corporation to Constellation Brands in 2004, Michael returned to his entrepreneurial ways, starting Folio Fine Wine Partners with his wife, Isabel, and children, Rob and Dina, selling their first case in February 2005.
Folio is a boutique importer focused on premier wines from family-owned estates representing some of the great wine companies in the world including Ornellaia, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, Bruno Giacosa, DalForno Romano, Luce della Vite, Artadi, Vall Llach, Donnafugata and Masseto. In addition, Folio represents the Michael Mondavi family through the wines of Michael Mondavi Family Estate (www.michaelmondavifamilyestate.com).
Michael and his family created Michael Mondavi Family Estate (MMFE) in 1999 with the purchase of the Animo vineyard in California’s Atlas Peak AVA, which now produces the flagship wines Animo and M by Michael Mondavi. The MMFE portfolio also includes limited production wines under the Isabel Mondavi and Emblem labels.
“This recognition by the Wine Enthusiast is very humbling,” said Michael. “However, it would be more accurate to call it ‘Persons of the Year’ because it reflects the hard work and dedication of so many people including my wife, Isabel, my children, Rob and Dina, our team at Folio, and the great network of distributors and clients with whom we have built relationships over the past years.”
New projects and milestones for Michael and his family abound. Folio is on a steady growth trajectory (15 percent growth in the past year) and continues to add new, prestigious producers with Charles Heidsieck and Susana Balbo coming on board this year. The Michael Mondavi Family Estate portfolio continues to grow as well, led by winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr, and sales and export marketing lead, Dina Mondavi. Michael and his family are also actively researching options for a new winery in Napa.
“I’ve worked in every aspect of the wine business during my lifetime, and learned a valuable lesson,” continued Michael. “The most important achievement is to work with people you enjoy spending time with, and continuing to learn along the way.”
