Mondavi center fund drive

Wines & Vines, July, 2003

* According to newspaper reports, officials at UC Davis are scrambling to find at least another $15 million in order to complete the Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Center on the campus. Groundbreaking is scheduled to begin on the project in the fall of 2004, which doesn't leave much time to raise the money. Mondavi donated $25 million to start the project two years ago.

When completed, the center will replace the university's present wine teaching and research facilities. It is expected to cost about $80 to $85 million when completed.

"We probably have picked the perfectly worst time to go out and ask people for their support," James Wolpert, chairman of the department of viticulture and enology told the Sacramento Bee.

Earlier this year, Wolpert had announced he was resigning from his position to devote more time to research. When the funds shortage became evident, Wolpert, at the urging of UC Davis administration, did a quick turnaround and agreed to stay on as chairman and help raise money.

Wolpert said, "What we are hoping is that people... would be making a gift because it's critically important to the future of California wine."