Angelina Mondavi is a fourth-generation winemaker and the first woman in her family to lead winemaking at Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley, CA. As Head Winemaker, she oversees the winery’s Napa Valley, Limited Release, and Family Reserve collections, continuing the Mondavi family’s legacy while bringing her own vision to one of Napa Valley’s most historic estates.
Raised on the Mondavi family property, Angelina developed a passion for winemaking at an early age, learning firsthand from her grandfather, Peter Mondavi Sr. By age 10, she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to the family business.
Media Inquiries: Kaylee DaLuz kdaluz@colangelopr.com | https://charleskrug.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
For my family winery, Charles Krug Winery, founded in 1861 by Charles Krug, is the oldest winery in Napa Valley. My great-grandparents, along with my grandfather, Peter Mondavi Sr., and his brother, Robert Mondavi, acquired the winery in 1943. It continues to be under the stewardship of my sisters, cousins, my uncle Peter Jr., and our father, Marc, now extending into the fifth generation.
We are now majority women-owned and serve as stewards of a little over 850 acres. The fourth generation is actively transitioning into the business: I serve as Consulting Winemaker and a Board member; Riana is Director of Hospitality and also on the Board; Alycia and Giovanna are Brand Ambassadors contributing their strengths in finance and legal; our cousin Lia sits on the Board, and her brother Lucio is a Brand Ambassador.
What makes us truly unique is our longevity and legacy in an industry where that is increasingly rare in Napa Valley. Our story is about continuity, evolution, and family stewardship, and we hope to carry that forward for the next 100 years.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
If the sky were the limit, I would incorporate more AI in the vineyards to help identify struggling vines, allowing me to focus on the individuality of each vine, not just the vineyard as a whole.
My dream, which is still a work in progress, is to develop systems that reduce waste by creating biochar and energy, then reusing hydrogen energy to help take our family winery 100% off the grid. The goal is to elevate our sustainability to a level no other winery has achieved.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Do I have to choose just one? Generations is the epitome of family and adaptability. My father created this red blend in 1991 during a bumper crop year, when we had more fruit than available tank space. He improvised by creating a field blend in a single tank, combining our premium Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Over the years, this wine has remained a red blend, named Generations to represent our entire family. It continues to be estate-grown and priced under $100 per bottle something very few wineries in Napa Valley can achieve, but we can. Check out my review of Generations red blend here.
We have a second wine that I want to mention, which embodies my family’s resilience and the ability to evolve. Our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is most emblematic of our commitment to never remaining stagnant, continually acquiring exceptional vineyard sites in Napa Valley, and crafting the best wines possible from them.