The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty

Absolutely fascinating. At least to me as a big California wine drinker. So many things we take for granted were Robert Mondavi innovations. He was a huge influence on the region, improving quality and helping to establish California as a fine wine appellation. I am truly grateful. Also, unbeknownst to me, I bought and started listening to this just after Robert Mondavi died on May 16, 2008. An eerie little touch.

What struck me most is the fact that the Mondavi family seems genetically programmed to fight with itself. No one can get along, reach an accord or even a compromise. I have no sympathy for what happened to them (Robert’s branch especially) since they brought it on themselves. Even in the end after the RM Winery had been sold show more and the Mondavi family forced out, they could have purchased the Oakville winery if they could have stopped fighting long enough to get their shit together. Alas, they couldn’t. Even amidst their hand-wringing and whining about losing their family legacy, they couldn’t. Amazing.

The author does a great job of giving us facts without creating monsters or heroes. No one gets special treatment and no one is dragged through the mud. She gives equal time for kudos and for dressing down and there’s plenty of both. show less

Julia Flynn Siler's The House of Mondavi starts with everything that makes a great story: a wonderfully complex and larger-than-life character, a lush wine-country setting, a conflicted family, and a great undertaking. She brings the story to life with a journalist's eye for the telling detail and a fine fiction writer's sense of plot, pacing, and instinct for the great tragedy that so often results from excesses of pride. The result is a page-turner that leaves the reader not just with the sense of having enjoyed a satisfying story, but also with a deep knowledge of the history of the rise of California's wine industry and a better understanding of human nature. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is a fascinating history of the most famous (and infamous) American wine dynasty, the Mondavis, and the rise and fall of their empire. The book spans 4 generations, and is divided into four parts: Foundation, Construction, Expansion, and the stunning finale, Demolition. The meticulously researched text reads like a Greek tragedy; the reader can see disaster looming, however the characters are unable to control the events from unfolding. Siler weaves an epic tale of ambition and hubris, rage and betrayal, pride and lust, extreme success and ultimate heartbreak. She systematically reveals the sibling rivalries, infighting, and unwise business decisions that led to the family's magnificent failure. I was amazed to learn of the show more enormous impact that the icon and visionary, Robert Mondavi, had on the acceptance of wine, California production, and American culture in general. He was responsible, more than any other individal, for giving the maligned American wine industry the worldwide respect it now enjoys. This is a must read for those interested in business, the world of winemaking, and biographies. show less

Starting with Ceasare Mondavi's first ventures in the valley after World War II, through the family's tumultuous history, to ultimate riches but personal dissatisfaction, House of Mondavi by Julia Flynn Siler is a mesmerizing tale.

Like any family business saga, the story of who started the business, who ran it, and who runs it now is one that could be told adequately on the back of a restaurant menu. The Mondavi story itself could have been told well in a Vanity Fair-style magazine article. At close to 500 pages, this is a long book. But the details and diversions Siler includes add depth and richness that bring the reader right inside the Mondavis' world.

Having recently returned from a trip to Napa, I was interested in learning more about the famous Mondavi family, which has been an icon in the wine industry for several decades. Julia Flynn Siler’s portrayal of ‘The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty’ was a mesmerizing account of the enigmatic members of the Mondavi clan, especially Robert Mondavi, who sought to transform the wine industry into one of finesse by pairing fine wines with delicious food. The author precisely recounts the many emotional conflicts within the family, with almost a cast of characters that might typify a soap opera. Because these people are all so real, with many still living today and working in the wine industry, the book show more was so very interesting! In order to have written this work, the author must have done some serious research, and she portrays the events with such exacting detail that I felt like I was almost there witnessing all the sibling rivalry and bitterness, as well as the passion for wine-making and success. If you love fine wines and the stories that accompany them, this book is a must read!
Incidentally, the book describes the Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as an exquisite wine, as confirmed by Paul Lukas in ‘The Great Wines of America: The Top Forty Vintners, Vineyards, and Vintages.’ However, although the Opus 1 was designated as Mondavi winery’s prized wine produced in collaboration with the Baron Philippe Rothschild, of the Premier Grand Cru Mouton Rothschild, the author states that the Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, is a wine of distinction and quality, possibly even exceeding the Opus 1. show less

Julia Flynn Siler has accomplished something amazing with the House of Mondavi. It is clear the book was meticulously researched. Her experience as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal obviously guided her writing. Unlike some nonfiction books in which the author speculates where the facts end, Ms. Flynn Siler supports each element of the story with multiple sources. The book is not about Ms. Flynn Siler's opinions of what could have happened. It is about the complex, fascinating web that is the Mondavis. That said, the story reads almost like a novel, and at times is a page-turner. Some reviewers have complained about typos in the text, but any typos are due to a lapse at the copyediting stage and have little if anything to do with show more Ms. Flynn Siler or the quality of the story being told. The House of Mondavi is an engaging and a compelling read which deserves accolades for its substance. show less

4.6 A little dated from 2007 at this point, but I learned so many intimate details about the history and business of the Napa valley. Great book!