New world wine maker and marketing star Robert Mondavi died yesterday. Mondavi has brought much joy to gift baskets and chain restaurant wine lists across America. His California winery took on the world’s brightest and best wines.

Mondavi set up shop in the mid-60’s in Napa Valley –one of the first after prohibition. A Stanford frat boy who majored in business and economics, Mondavi turned wine into a marketing class assignment. He coined the term Fume Blanc in place of Sauvignon Blanc. Take THAT Frenchies!

I’m ready to hop in the car and drive up to Napa for some Jesus juice tasting in his honor. How about you?