The Mondavi Sisters

Napa Valley Past, Present, and Future

BY FRAN MILLER

Alycia Mondavi

While the Mondavi Sisters – Alycia, Riana, Angelina, and Gigi – are certainly no strangers to a familyowned and operated business, the four have taken a hands-on approach with their boutique labels, Aloft and Dark Matter wines.

Raised in Napa Valley and members of the iconic California wine family, the sisters laugh about starting work at their family’s winery at the early age of 10. A host of winery jobs alongside their Father, Marc, and Grandfather, Peter Mondavi Sr., included everything from cleaning glassware to running samples and helping in the lab.

Following the family rule that they had to acquire experience in other endeavors before joining the family business, Alycia, CEO of Aloft and Dark Matter, attended college in San Diego and worked as a paralegal before making her way back home.

Angelina, who serves as winemaker for Aloft and Dark Matter, also runs a successful consulting winemaking business, with several 100-point scores to her name.

Riana, the third in the lineup, handles off-premise chain account sales for the

Riana Mondavi Angelina Mondavi Gigi Mondavi

family’s parent company, C. Mondavi & Family, which includes legacy brands such as Charles Krug and CK Mondavi. Giovanna, also known as Gigi, currently works for Massachusetts Financial Services, building a career in finance. Riana and Gigi also help with Aloft and Dark Matter as Brand Ambassadors and Co-Proprietors.

“We each bring our own strengths to the table,” said Alycia. “It’s an ‘all hands on deck’ atmosphere; we are the only employees, and each of us has learned the business from the ground up.”

Encouraged by their father Marc to create their own path, the sisters purchased a two-acre parcel atop Howell Mountain in 2003, itself a dramatic departure from the family’s history of producing wines only from the Napa Valley floor. The parcel was previously and serendipitously planted to Zinfandel, a varietal of significant meaning to the sisters. “One of my earliest memories is of drinking watered-down Zinfandel with my grandfather,” said Angelina. “We joke that we were all bottle-fed Zin.”

Following the Dark Matter Zinfandel’s successful launch in 2006, the sisters also launched a Cabernet expression under the Dark Matter label, called Limitless. The Cabernet provides their loyal fan base with an option for a more traditional Napa Valley varietal, even within the more edgy Dark Matter label.

Conversely, the Aloft label pays homage to the sister’s deep roots in the Napa Valley. The Cabernet, also grown on Howell Mountain, will soon celebrate their tenth vintage. In 2019, the Sisters again paid tribute to their roots, releasing a Napa Valley Chenin Blanc. Once a popular varietal, the grape now only accounts for less than ten acres grown in all of Napa Valley.

The two brands, and the wines within, beautifully illustrate an inherent duality - a deep regard for their family’s history combined with a personal, modern flare.

Even as the Valley faces new growing pains, the Mondavi Sisters and their wines promise to remain a stalwart reminder of Napa Valley’s great past and promising future.

THE JOURNEY:

Taylor Berkley Boydstun

BY VALERIE OWENS

The world-renowned Napa Valley is a community where dreams flourish and wine reigns, where vintners such as Taylor Berkley Boydstun craft terroir-driven wines showcasing a true sense of place within each vintage.

Inspired by cultural influence, Taylor was introduced to the world of wine while studying abroad in both Spain and France in 2008. Upon returning, Taylor moved to the West Coast from Illinois, joining AmeriCorps and the National Park Service in 2009. Fortuitously, his adventurous spirit led to touring the Napa Valley during harvest that same year. Little did he know that fateful time of exploration would be his guiding light to a career embedded in wine and viticulture. "I started with a viticultural apprenticeship in the rural hinterlands of Central Otago in New Zealand. That education springboarded my career. From there, I worked in Northern California, Australia, and Austria,” explained Boydstun. "I have been fortunate to study under many exceptional and influential winemakers and viticulturists around the world."

In 2016, Taylor launched T. Berkley Wines, focusing on Loire-inspired varietals and highlighting Taylor's first love, Cabernet Franc. Named in commemoration of his maternal grandfather Jack Berkley, T. Berkley Wines sources both Cabernet Franc and old vine Chenin Blanc. "These wines are inspired by the best of the Loire, made under the California sunshine," said Boydstun.

In 2018, Taylor's journey broadened. Accepting the head Winemaking position with Teachworth Napa Valley, Taylor was tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations, winemaking, and vineyard management for the boutique wine brand. A passion-driven project, Teachworth Napa Valley celebrates the love of Walter and Joan Teachworth. Originally from Galveston, Texas, the Teachworth's moved to the Napa Valley in 1991 and shortly after that purchased and planted their namesake estate on the slopes of Quail Mountain in the Diamond Mountain District.

Walter designed and built a craft winery on the property, intending to produce ultra-premium estate Napa Valley Cabernets. Working with founding Winemaker Phil Steinschriber, Teachworth Napa Valley was born in 2000.

Today Walter and Joan's children, Chris and Laura Teachworth, have taken the helm. Carrying on their parents' legacy, the Teachworth's dedication to making small production, premium wines has led them to join forces with Taylor Berkley Boydstun. Together, they have expanded the portfolio to include Pinot Noir and an upcoming Mountain Cabernet Series.

Crafting the wines for both Teachworth and T. Berkley Wines on the property, the complimentary wine labels showcase the versatility and strength behind Taylor's genius. Guests are invited to book a private tasting and tour led by Taylor for an unforgettable experience in the Napa Valley, embodying both terroir and artistry with each sip.