The Culinary Institute of America inducts Robert Mondavi as first Pioneer in the Vintners Hall of Fame
Contact:
Cate Conniff
707-967-2303 tel
c_connif@culinary.edu
St. Helena, CA, March 14, 2007 – Dr. Tim Ryan, president of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), inducted world-renowned vintner Robert Mondavi as the first Pioneer in the college's new Vintner's Hall of Fame at CIA Greystone. The induction ceremony took place on March 9, during a gala fund-raising dinner, the proceeds from which benefit CIA scholarship funds for wine studies, as well as the development of food and wine programs at Greystone.
"This is a pearl in the crown of our family's winemaking history in the Napa Valley," remarked Margrit Mondavi on behalf of her husband, Robert Mondavi.
The CIA's Vintners Hall of Fame has transformed the historic Barrel Room at Greystone into a showcase to honor the men and women who have been responsible for the establishment, growth, and world-wide prestige of the California wine industry. Each inductee will be honored with a sculpture in their likeness, as well as brief histories of their contributions, to be placed on 2,200-gallon historic wine barrels.
"The college's new Vintners Hall of Fame further confirms the CIA's role as America's leading educator for the food, beverage, and hospitality industry," notes Dr. Ryan. "Our Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies has enjoyed tremendous growth thanks to the California wine industry, and it is only appropriate that we join in recognizing the industry's leaders, past and present. We are proud to provide such a 'home' for the Vintners Hall of Fame at Greystone, itself one of the industry's most historic facilities in the Napa Valley."
In addition to acknowledging the vast contributions of Robert Mondavi as a Pioneer, Dr. Ryan inducted two Icons: Maynard Amerine and Harold Olmo and six Founders: André Tchelistcheff, Georges De Latours, Charles Krug, Agosten Haraszthy, Gustave Niebaum, and Brother Timothy. Poignant moments in the event occurred when several descendants and family members of inductees received posthumous awards on behalf of their relations: Jeanne-Marie Olmo accepted on behalf of her great-uncle, Harold Olmo; Vallejo Haraszthy accepted on behalf of his great-great grandfather Agoston Haraszthy; and Dorothy Tchelistcheff accepted on behalf of her late husband, André Tchelistcheff.
Pioneers are modern-day vintners who provided the nourishing direction that has been the path for the California wine industry's success and world-wide recognition. Founders are early and visionary vintners whose ventures planted the roots of the present-day California wine industry, and Icons are those in the fields of viticulture, science, research, education, writing, and criticism who have inspired and nurtured the California wine industry. Inductees were selected by a panel of 75 national wine writers, critics, and historians.
Each March the CIA will hold an annual Induction Dinner to welcome new members to the Vintners Hall of Fame. Next year's gala fund-raiser will be March 7, 2008.
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in the culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. A network of more than 37,000 alumni in foodservice and hospitality has helped the CIA earn its reputation as the world's premier culinary college. Courses for foodservice professionals are offered at the college's main campus in Hyde Park, NY and at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in St. Helena, CA. CIA at Greystone also offers baking and pastry, advanced culinary arts, and wine certifications.
For more information, visit the CIA's Web site at www.ciachef.edu.
# # #
You are receiving this e-mail because you have subscribed to The Culinary Institute of America's Media List. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from the media relations department, please e-mail j_levine@culinary.edu with the words Unsubscribe Media as the subject line.
