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Mondavi (Margrit Biever) Papers on Art and Philanthropy
D-613
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis General Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Margrit Biever Mondavi Papers on Art and Philanthropy
Creator:
Mondavi,
Margrit Biever, 1925-2016
Identifier/Call Number: D-613
Physical Description:
24.8 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1914-2016
Date (bulk): 1940-2016
Abstract: Swiss-American philanthropist and champion of the
arts Margrit Biever Mondavi (1925-2016) was Vice President of Cultural Affairs at Robert Mondavi Winery. Her papers include
correspondence, daily calendars, travel itineraries, subject files, clipping files, original artwork, photographs, and
realia. Also included is a small amount of materials related to the history of Charles Krug Winery.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections,
as many are stored offsite.
Swiss-American philanthropist, businesswoman, and champion of the arts Margrit Biever Mondavi (1925-2016) was born Margrit
Kellenberger in Appenzell, Switzerland. In 1946, while attending a teachers' college for young women, Margrit met U. S. Army
Captain Philip Biever. The pair married shortly thereafter and moved to South Dakota, where Philip was stationed. Margrit
and
Philip had three children: Philip Jr., Annie, and Phoebe. In 1961, the family moved to Napa, California, and in 1963, Margrit
began working as a tour guide for the Mondavi-owned Charles Krug Winery.
When Robert Mondavi left Charles Krug in 1965 to start his own winery, many members of the Charles Krug Winery staff
joined him, Margrit among them. Over many years of working together, Margrit and Robert Mondavi became close friends.
Ultimately, Margrit and Philip Biever divorced, and in 1980, Margrit and Robert were married.
From the Robert Mondavi Winery's opening in 1966, Margrit was a vital piece of the winery's cultural life. One of
Margrit's early jobs was cooking for winery guests, first as an emergency stand-in for the regular chef, and later by popular
request. Her passion for good food ultimately led her to launch the Great Chefs Program, which brought culinary masters from
around the world to Robert Mondavi Winery. Chefs Daniel Boulud, Alice Waters, and Julia Child, among many others, gave
cooking demonstrations and led weekend seminars. In 2003, Margrit wrote a cookbook with her daughter Annie Biever Roberts,
who at the time was executive chef of the Robert Mondavi Winery.
Annie and Margrit: Recipes and Stories from the Robert Mondavi Kitchen won the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards'
"Best in the World" prize in the "Best Easy Recipes Book" category.
One of Margrit Mondavi's lifelong ambitions was to make Napa Valley a destination for arts as well as wine. In 1969, she
founded the Robert Mondavi Winery Summer Music Festival as a benefit for the Napa Valley Symphony. The festival has run
annually since then, bringing performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Brubeck, and k. d. lang to Napa Valley. Margrit and
Robert Mondavi also supported arts ventures in the greater Napa Valley, including the restoration of the Napa Valley Opera
House and the joint foundation of the Oxbow School, a residential art school, in Napa.
As Vice President of Cultural Affairs at Robert Mondavi Winery, Margrit Mondavi's love of art and cuisine inspired her to
launch COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food, and the Arts. COPIA opened its doors in 2001 and until its closing in 2008
was a showcase for California's contributions to wine, fine food, and the visual arts. Three major organizations came
together to create the Center: UC Davis; the American Institute for Wine and Food; and Cornell University's School of Hotel
and Restaurant Administration. Chef Julia Child was also a supporter of the project and the restaurant at COPIA was named
"Julia's Kitchen" in her honor.
Margrit and Robert Mondavi were deeply involved in promoting scholarship and the arts at UC Davis. In 2001, the couple
made the founding donation for the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. The following year saw the launch of
the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. After Robert's death in 2008, Margrit continued her
philanthropic involvement with UC Davis. She was a founding member of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art,
co-chair of the volunteer committee that led the highly successful fundraising Campaign for UC Davis, and a supporter of
undergraduate and graduate students in the colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Letters and Sciences. In
appreciation for her support of UC Davis, the campus dedicated a sculpture garden in her honor. In November 2015, the Margrit
Mondavi Art Garden opened to visitors.
Margrit Mondavi wrote two memoirs:
Margrit Mondavi's Sketchbook: Reflections on Wine, Food, Art, Family, Romance and Life, illustrated with her
watercolors, was published in 2012, and
Margrit Mondavi's Vignettes: Stories and Recipes from a Life in Wine was published in 2015.
Margrit Biever Mondavi died at home in Coombsville, California in 2016.
Selected Awards
1998: Women for Wine Sense "Woman of the Year"
2004: UC Davis Medal (with Robert Mondavi)
2010: Napa Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year
2011: Distinguished Friend of the University Award, Cal Aggie Alumni Association
2015: UC Davis dedicates the Margrit Mondavi Art Garden
Sources:
Carson, L. Pierce "Margrit Mondavi Dies at Age 91 at Napa Home".
Napa Valley Register, 2 September, 2016.
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/margrit-mondavi-dies-at-age-at-napa-home/article_02430bdf-8e8c-5d87-9926-12b3ffbe3a29.html
(Accessed
6 September 2017.)
Carson, L. Pierce "Silver Jubilee Tribute to Margrit Biever Mondavi".
Napa Valley Register, 22 September, 1992.
Colwell, Sarah. "Margrit Biever Mondavi: A life committed to beauty". UC Davis Giving,
http://giving.ucdavis.edu/impacts-of-giving/inspiring-stories/margrit-biever-mondavi-a-life-committed-to-beauty
(Accessed
6 September 2017.)
Ladyman, Thyra. "Interview: Margrit Biever Mondavi. A True Matriarch".
St. Helena Star, 9 May 2002.
"Margrit Biever Mondavi Dies at Age 91", robertmondaviwinery.com
https://www.robertmondaviwinery.com/Margrit-Biever-Mondavi
(Accessed 6 September 2017.)
Mondavi, Margrit Biever.
Margrit Mondavi on Wine, Food, Culture, and Napa Valley. (Interview by Martin D.
Meeker for Oral History Center, Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley). 2016
http://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/roho/ucb/text/mondavi_margrit_2016.pdf
(Accessed 6 September 2017.)
The Margrit Biever Mondavi Papers span the years 1963-2016 and include correspondence, daily calendars, travel
itineraries, subject files, clipping files, original artwork, photographs of friends and travels, and realia such as awards
and engraved glassware. Also included is a small amount of material related to the history of Charles Krug Winery.
The Margrit Biever Mondavi Papers on Art and Philanthropy are arranged in eight series: 1. Biographical Information; 2.
Correspondence; 3. Calendars, Trip Files, and Event Files; 4. Napa Valley; 5. UC Davis; 6. Artwork; 7. Photographs; and 8.
Realia.
Collection is open for research.
This collection was processed by Liz Phillips with help from student assistants Robyn Lam and Fiona Sun.
One sealed sample of Robert Mondavi Winery balsamic vinegar was removed due to preservation concerns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Margrit Biever Revocable Trust, 2016-2017.
[Identification of item], Margrit Biever Mondavi Papers on Art and Philanthropy, D-613, Department of Special Collections,
General Library, University of California, Davis.
By request of the donor, no reproduction may be made of Margrit Biever Mondavi's original artwork.
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Napa Valley (Calif.) -- History
Art patronage
Mondavi, Margrit Biever,
1925-2016 -- Archives
Robert Mondavi Winery --
History
University of California, Davis
-- History