Wine and dine with Mondavi

Rob Mondavi grew up working and playing in the vineyards of the family winery that made his grandfather, Robert Mondavi, an acclaimed American wine maker and put his Napa Valley wines into the glasses of oenophiles around the world.

Now wine enthusiasts on the Coast will have a chance meet Rob Mondavi at local events scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, both offering tastes of some of Mondavi's favorite vintages.

On Monday the Beau Rivage and Folio Wine Partners will present a wine-pairings dinner with Mondavi at BR Prime. For $150 per person, guests will taste fine wines from the world's leading and emerging wine regions while enjoying a reception and four-course dinner prepared by executive chef Joseph Friel. Each course will be paired with both a New World and Old World wine selection. The reception begins at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Mondavi will visit ConFusion in Gulfport from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to showcase the upper echelon of his wine portfolio to local wine retailers, sommeliers and restaurateurs. The professionals will have a chance to taste more than a dozen world-class wines such as Vill Sandi Claxa Prosecco, a Spellbound Petite Syrah from California, and Tenuta dell'Ornellia Le Volte Super Tuscan, and talk to Mondavi one-on-one.

Robert Mondavi Sr. died in May at the age of 94. Many in the wine industry credited him with not only putting California wines on the map, but also dispelling the idea wine should be limited to the fine dining experience.

ConFusion's Martin Burns agrees.

"Wine is hot. Everyone is interested now," said Burns. "Whether they know a little or a lot, people really are into it, and that's what the Mondavi family brought. They brought wine to the table and made it fun and accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy."

Tickets for the Beau Rivage wine dinner are available at the Beau Rivage box office or by calling 1-888-566-7469. For details about the presentation at ConFusion call 604-4617.