Rating: 
Summary: "Wine is Life".
Review: "Wine is Life". With this small but powerful quote from Petronius, Robert Mondavi begins a tale of himself that speaks to many of the virtues of being Italian: hard work, passion, and family. Mr. Mondavi spins for us a tale of his parents origins as poor Italian farm workers who came over to America in search of the Great Dream and how out of this dream he arose to create one of the most well known and respected wineries in the world today. He talks of how he took all of the principles he learned from his humble beginnings and transformed them into a business model, which has driven his passion for excellence and perfection. From the very beginning he had a vision - to make America stand as the best in the realm of fine wines. In this vision he ended succeeding a way he never dreamed. His book reads like a fine glass of Chianti - bit by bit you sip it and savor the flavor of each passing moment. He is an inspiration to all Italians and Italian Americans trying to succeed in the world of business today. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: "Wine is Life".
Review: "Wine is Life". With this small but powerful quote from Petronius, Robert Mondavi begins a tale of himself that speaks to many of the virtues of being Italian: hard work, passion, and family. Mr. Mondavi spins for us a tale of his parents origins as poor Italian farm workers who came over to America in search of the Great Dream and how out of this dream he arose to create one of the most well known and respected wineries in the world today. He talks of how he took all of the principles he learned from his humble beginnings and transformed them into a business model, which has driven his passion for excellence and perfection. From the very beginning he had a vision - to make America stand as the best in the realm of fine wines. In this vision he ended succeeding a way he never dreamed. His book reads like a fine glass of Chianti - bit by bit you sip it and savor the flavor of each passing moment. He is an inspiration to all Italians and Italian Americans trying to succeed in the world of business today. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Understanding the joie de vivre
Review: A must read book for anyone who not only has a "joie de vivre", but wishes to explore the foundation for truly appreciating the best. Mr Mondavi provides such insights in a most enjoyable and readable manner. Baccus himself would be delighted to read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting behind the scenes look at Napa Valley Wine works
Review: As a winemaker and business/marketing agent, Robert Mondavi reveals great creativity and passion but is not, however, very good at creative writing. Elementary admonitions to "show don't tell" when writing have evidentally missed Mondavi's ears, resulting in a rather flat, repetitive text. Nonetheless, readers who have visited Napa Valley, physically or mentally, and embraced the romanticism and beauty of the winemaking process, will plod through the uninspiring writing for the glimpses it provides of the history of one of the most beautiful places in our country and the secrets to Mondavi's unprecedented success. Mondavi's true passion for winemaking and marketing are more than evident; and he is honest about the negative effects his tunnel vision has had on family and personal life. His worldwide success speaks for itself and would probably not need quite the amount of repetitious acclaim he gives it. One wonders how much the versions of his successes would differ among his peers and competitors... it would seem that such drive and ambition would create animosity. For those of us considering investing in this, or other vineyards, the final chapters written by Robert's two sons, Tim and Mike, who now run the company, offers great insights into the Mondavi wineries' future plans and strategies for taking their family run business still further as an industry leader, as well as the current projects of the tireless founder, Robert Mondavi.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Besides being a well written and interesting story to read, the fact that Mr. Mondavi started a new business adventure at the age of 52 is very inspirational to any entrepeneur.
His passion for high quality and his vision for the wine industry brought a new dimension to this activity, not only in the Napa Valley, but also, in far away places as Chile.
I enjoyed very much the reading and the honest advices that Mr. Mondavi gathered in 85 years.
Rating: 
Summary: Endorsement
Review: Can you imagine any wine-lover who wouldn't give teeth to meet Bob Mondavi? This book is as close as most will get--but it is really close. You can hear the man on every page: America's greatest wine-man, authoritative, confident, wise, but also disarming, simple, forthright.The story he tells is vital to American wine history. It will become a source document for the development of identity, quality, confidence and success in California-an essential book and a gripping one. -- Hugh Johnson
Rating: 
Summary: Mondavi writes as he lives; bigger than life!
Review: For those of us who love wine, winemaking, the Napa valley (or Sonoma and Mendicino for that matter), a Cabernet or anything to due wth grapes-this is a great book. The uncovered real story, at least Mondavi's version, is wonderfully interesting and fun. He has had a grand life, done everything his way and only has a few regretes. But, as he tells in the book, those regretes are deep and strong. He writes that in reality, he cared more for making wine than for his family. If you are looking for good writing-keep looking, excellent literature or storytelling this is not. But, if you want something interesting on wine and the history of a leader and champion of California wine making, then this is a book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Good reading for starting your own company!
Review: From working with my father in business and growing up in the wine industry; "Harvest of Joy" brings back memories of when our nations wine industry really "took off." Well written, sometimes too honest with himself, Mondavi show the good and bad points of how to build a business from the ground up... Robert Mondavi should have written this book ten years ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Awful!
Review: I found the amateur writing style and repetitiveness of this book to be unbearable. Mondavi repeats himself, re-repeats himself then describes it again for the reader throughout the book. Further, the narcissism of Mr. Mondavi was so replete in every chapter that the book was a self serving platform rather than informative or entertaining. I was truly frustrated and disappointed I wasted any time reading this one (the first time I have ever said that about a book!). It was almost totally pointless. It should have been one-third of the size and it needed a worthy editor.
Rating:
Summary: Endorsement
Review: I love this book. Robert Mondavi's unquenchable enthusiasm is infectious and you know after reading just a paragraph or two that he thoroughly enjoyed creating this book. It's his frank admission of failures, as well as achievements, that gives an appealing human heart to his book. He is urging his readers on: 'look, I did it, Here's how. You can do it too! --Julia Child
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