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Case file s412 · Divorce and feuds · 2008
2008
Robert Mondavi: Robert Mondavi (1971) (cropped)
Robert Mondavi. San Fernando Valley Pub. Co.. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.
Died
Robert Mondavi, May 16, 2008; Peter Mondavi, February 2016
Place
Napa Valley, California · United States
Field
wine
Legal tradition
California law · Common law
Historical event
Rise of Napa Valley wine

Robert Mondavi was pushed out of his family's winery after a fight with his brother, sued, and won

Cesare and Rosa Mondavi bought the Charles Krug winery in 1943†. Their sons Robert and Peter ran it. In 1965 the brothers fought over the business direction, reportedly including a physical fight†, and Robert left. In 1966 he founded the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville. Their mother sided with Peter. Robert sued over his share of the family company in 1972, and Peter's side countersued. In 1976 a judge ruled for Robert, awarded him more than $500,000, wrote that Robert had acted with honor and Peter had not, and ordered the Krug winery sold. The brothers settled instead: in 1978 Peter bought out Robert, who received the To Kalon vineyard holdings, and Peter kept Krug. Robert's own winery later went public, and after his sons Michael and Tim clashed, it was sold to Constellation Brands in 2004†. Peter Mondavi ran Charles Krug until his death at 101 in 2016, and his family still owns it†.

What the law took from it

Siblings who share a family company need an exit price agreed before they need it.

Cite as: celebrity.estate, “Robert Mondavi was pushed out of his family's winery after a fight with his brother, sued, and won,” story s412, https://www.celebrity.estate/robert-mondavi-2008, updated 30 October 2026.

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