Robert Mondavi Winery has appointed Sally Johnson Blum as Director of Winemaking, as the winery continues an historic transformation to cement its stature as the defining fine wine leader in Napa Valley. Johnson Blum, who spent the previous 15 years crafting acclaimed wines for Pride Mountain Vineyards, brings global winemaking experience and a passion for stewardship and innovation to Robert Mondavi Winery.
Robert Mondavi Winery Appoints Sally Johnson Blum as Director of Winemaking
Johnson Blum joins Kurtis Ogasawara, Senior Winemaker, and Lauren Oliver, Winemaker, as a part of the award-winning Robert Mondavi Winery winemaking team. She will also work closely with the Robert Mondavi Winery Technical Council, a group of acclaimed winemakers—including Chief Winemaker Geneviève Janssens, Thomas Rivers Brown and Andy Erickson—who provide strategic guidance on winemaking, viticulture and other brand aspects, honoring Robert Mondavi’s role as a Napa Valley pioneer and innovator.
“We were drawn to Sally’s reputation as an inclusive leader and her winemaking philosophy of crafting wines that reflect both the place and moment in time they were created,” said Lauren Larrabee, Vice President and General Manager of Fine Wine at Constellation Brands. “As we continue our commitment to elevating quality from farm to bottle craftsmanship, we look forward to seeing Sally’s impact.”
The transformation of Robert Mondavi Winery encompasses every aspect of the brand and its home, from sustainable farming—To Kalon Vineyard will become certified organic with the 2023 vintage—to vineyard-to-bottle craftsmanship, to the creation of compelling luxury consumer experiences such as Tastemade’s Dinner in the Vines this past May and the creation of wine goblets with French luxury porcelain house Bernardaud, available this fall. The addition of Johnson Blum to the winemaking team underscores Robert Mondavi Winery’s commitment to quality and history while also looking to the future as the brand continues to evolve as one of the world’s preeminent wineries.
“Sally’s unparalleled experience in winemaking speaks for itself,” noted Geneviève Janssens, Chief Winemaker for Robert Mondavi Winery. “Her respect for Robert Mondavi’s pioneering spirit and dedication to California fine wines make her the perfect addition to our team as we pursue our vision to create wines of longevity, rooted in a distinct sense of place.”
After entering the world of wine by way of studying biotech in college, Johnson Blum studied abroad in France where she began her formal education in wine, and then went on to earn her master’s degree in enology from The University of California, Davis. She started her career at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, working a harvest at St. Hallett Winery in the Barossa Valley and producing her own wine label, Lalys Cellars, during the eight years she spent at St. Francis. In 2007, she began her 15-year tenure at Pride Mountain Vineyards as only the second winemaker in the estate’s history, where she earned two Robert Parker 100-point scores and her wines were routinely ranked in Wine Spectator‘s Top 100 wine list. She currently resides in Santa Rosa, California with her husband and two children.
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Of her decision to join the Robert Mondavi Winery team, Johnson Blum said, “Robert Mondavi Winery and To Kalon Vineyard are synonymous with Napa Valley and comprise one of the world’s most iconic wine estates. I am thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to this incredible legacy and am honored to be a part of this inspiring team of winemakers and viticulturalists.”
For additional information, please visit www.robertmondaviwinery.com.
