Ep. 026 Joe Harden, WInemaker, Robert Mondavi Winery

Wine Podcast: The Honest Pour with John Lenart

Without the influence of Robert Mondavi Napa Valley would still be a world-class wine region, but it wouldn't be the same as it is today. While his eponymous winery sold to a large corporation more than a decade ago, the wine making team there strives to assure that Mr. Mondavi's influence and philosophy live on today. Joe Harden is responsible for making the Bordeaux wine varieties for Robert Mondavi Winery. A former pro basketball player, Harden grew up in Lodi, the son of wine grape growers, who sold grapes to Mondavi. Upon leaving the hard court he returned to the world of wine and landed an internship, which turned into a job as winemaker, at Robert Mondavi. Even though he's a young man, the responsibility of maintaining the tradition of Robert Mondavi does not escape Harden, and he's making some fabulous wines from Mondavi's To Kalon and other great vineyards.