Robert Mondavi Winery welcomed guests back to its Oakville estate Saturday for its 2026 Vintage Premiere dinner. It was the first edition of the annual celebration held at the winery since a three-year renovation, and it came as Mondavi marks 60 years since its founding. Guests had a chance to explore the grounds before sitting down to dinner paired with new Reserve releases.
The renovation kept Mondavi’s familiar arch and tower but gave visitors much more to discover beyond them. The old concert lawn has become a garden of native and drought-tolerant plants, and new terraces look out over To Kalon Vineyard. Inside, wood from former oak wine tanks has been reused in ceilings and walls, while the once-damaged bell tower has become a wine library and tasting room. Several sculptures by Beniamino Bufano are still on display.
The wines poured for the dinner were the 2024 Reserve Fumé Blanc, the 2023 The Reserve Red Blend and the 2023 The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, all from To Kalon Vineyard. The Fumé Blanc is made from Sauvignon Blanc with a little Sémillon. The red blend brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon includes small amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with dark fruit and cedar among its tasting notes. Winemaker Kurtis Ogasawara was on hand to explain the characteristics of these wines and why they and the To Kalon vineyard are so special.
The fourth featured wine, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon made to commemorate the winery’s 60th anniversary, brings another vineyard into the story. Mondavi made it with fruit drawn nearly equally from To Kalon and Wappo Hill, the vineyard Robert Mondavi planted at his home in the Stags Leap District. Released alongside the estate’s reopening, the bottle celebrates both of the winery’s original vineyards.
Robert Mondavi Winery is at 7801 St. Helena Highway in Oakville. To plan a visit, go to robertmondaviwinery.com and choose an experience under “Visit,” or call the reservations team at (888) 766-6328, ext. 2. Wines can be purchased through the website’s “Shop” section or at the winery; the site also has a “Find Locally” page for shoppers looking closer to home. Check availability if you’re seeking a particular vintage.