Category: Robert Mondavi Winery

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Margrit Mondavi, 1925-2016

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Archway welcoming guests to the Robert Mondavi Winery /Photo Michelle Locke

Margrit Mondavi was not a large person, nor a loud person, but when she was in the room, people knew it.

Instantly recognizable with her broad smile, huge eyes and blonde bob — Wine Country’s answer to Carol Channing — she only had to walk into a restaurant or event to set off a chain reaction of turned heads and smiles. “Oh look! Margrit’s here.” (A lot of people, including myself, never got around to calling her husband, the late, great Robert Mondavi, “Bob,” even though we were assured he wouldn’t mind, but Margrit was almost always Margrit.)

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Mondavi Mansion Mystery Unmasked

So now we know who the mystery buyers of the Robert Mondavi mansion are _ Jean-Charles Boisset, president of the French company Boisset Family Estates, which owns several California wineries, and his wife, Gina Gallo, granddaughter of California wine pioneer Julio Gallo.

Call me sentimental but I like the idea of all that dynastic family winemaking converging in one spot.

The news was first reported in the Wine Spectator and Boisset confirmed the purchase to the Napa Valley Register, saying the property is a spectacular site with amazing views.

I have no idea what will happen next, but if the renovations at Boisset’s Raymond Vineyards are anything to go by, it could be pretty interesting.

The house is 11,500 square feet on a 56-acre estate with sweeping views, a tower and a 50-foot indoor pool off the living room, under a retractable roof. It originally was listed for $25 million but the price was later dropped to $13.9 million with the recession and all. The house ultimately went for less than that, although there reportedly were two bids that were described as “strong.”

Faithful readers may recall that when the house went up for bid at the reduced price in October, the various descriptions of its fabulous fittings left me with a slight case of real estate envy. After all, the only sweeping views at Chez Vinecdote involve me, a broom and a good deal of dust. So, I decided to spruce up the homestead by fixing the leaking pipe under the kitchen sink.

How’d that go? Good news: pipe no longer leaks. Bad news: I used up an entire month’s swear quota in the space of about 15 minutes.

Cheers.

 

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Robert Mondavi Mansion Sold

Pool in the living room of Mondavi house ... why not? /File photo

Remember that two-bedroom steal I told you about in the Napa Valley? That’s right, the former home of the late wine pioneer Robert Mondavi and his wife, Margrit, that was going for nearly half off?

Well, if you had your eye on it, you’re too late, buster. Someone has snapped that puppy up.

Unfortunately, the details, reported in today’s Napa Register are a bit scant. There were apparently two bids which were “strong,” but below the listed price of $13.9 million.

Other than that all we know is that the house sold for an undisclosed sum to an undisclosed buyer. Apparently the purchasers own property in the U.S. and overseas, but do plan to use the place as a residence. So, Napa friends, you might want to pop over with a nice house-warming gift basket.

Here’s what they got: 11,500 square feet in a  56-acre estate with fabulous views, a tower and a 50-foot indoor pool off the living room.

Vinecdote has said this before, and she will say it again. Is this a great country, or what?

Related post: http://vinecdote.com/blog4/2011/10/for-sale-mondavi-mansion/

 

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For Sale: Mondavi mansion

Psst, looking for a hot deal in Napa real estate? I’ve got a good one for you, half off.

OK, the minimum bid is $13.9 million. But, still.

The property in question is the mountain top retreat of the late wine pioneer Robert Mondavi and his wife, Margrit. The original asking price was $25 million but what with the recession nipping at the heels of even the private jet set, it’s been marked down 44 percent.

Sale of the 11,500-square-foot pied-a-terre is being handled by Sheldon Good & Co. Details are here and if you are interested sealed bids are due by Nov. 16.

I interviewed the Mondavis a time or two but never did get an invite to the house. I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that there’s a 50-foot indoor pool off the living room. That right there is one of the many reasons I love this country. Oh, and there’s a tower overlooking the Napa Valley. Naturally.

You’re probably wondering. So, Michelle, are you and Mr. Vinecdote going to put in a bid? Well, we would, but, you know it would be an awfully long school commute for Child 1 and Child 2.

However, after taking a nice. long look at the fabulous views of kitchen, terrace, 56-acre estate, et al, I have decided to make one change in re: real estate. Come hell or high water, I am absolutely going to fix the leaking J-trap under the kitchen sink this week.

 

Related post: Robert Mondavi Mansion Sold