Folio Fine Wine Partners

Folio Fine Wine Partners represents a selection of more than 40 wineries from eight countries for the American market. Founded in 2004 by Michael Mondavi—eldest son of Napa legend Robert Mondavi—the company is now a partnership between the Mondavi family and the French luxury group EPI, which took a majority stake in 2020.

Separately, the Michael Mondavi Family Estate owns and produces their core artisanal brands: Animo, Emblem, M by Michael Mondavi, and Isabel by Isabel Mondavi. The latter recently expanded into the wellness space with Isabel (drinkisabel.com), a line of premium, dealcoholized non-alcoholic wines crafted by Rob Mondavi Jr. Additionally, Folio acts as a producer for several lifestyle brands, including Canvas, Hangtime, Oberon, and Spellbound.

And Noble Merchants is the direct-to-consumer (DTC) and retail platform for the Michael Mondavi Family Estate and Folio Fine Wine Partners. While Michael Mondavi Family Estate is the producer and Folio is the importer/distributor, Noble Merchants acts as the “storefront” and wine club manager for the entire portfolio.

Michael’s roots run deep in Napa Valley. His grandparents, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, purchased Charles Krug Winery in 1943. Along with his father, Robert, Michael co-founded the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1966 and served as the winemaker for their first eight harvests until 1974. He remained at the winery until it was sold to Constellation Brands in 2004. During his long career there, he served in various roles, including Vice President of Sales, President, CEO, and eventually Chairman.

The focus of the wines produced by Michael Mondavi Family Estate and marketed by Folio Wine Partners is on creating wines that are relatable, well-crafted from premium vineyard sites, and reasonably priced. Michael often quotes his grandmother, Rosa Mondavi, who said, “Create wines that invite people in for another glass.”

Master Winemaker for Folio Fine Wine Partners, Tony Coltrin (who we originally met with for this profile) grew up in St. Helena and has been involved in the wine industry in a professional capacity since 1973. A childhood was spent around agriculture, he remembers when the vineyards in Napa Valley were not trellised, and one could easily walk through them. It was a time when one could ride a horse into St. Helena for a softball game and one would not wonder why one was riding a horse through town. Tony spent his early years playing and working in vineyards, often on a tractor.

Leaning towards a career in veterinary medicine, the grandfather of one of his closest friends took him under his wing especially after Tony began asking questions relating to vineyards and winemaking. This individual was none other than André Tchelistcheff. Tony recalls sometimes camping with André in vineyards and experiencing firsthand the dramatic diurnal temperature differences between night and day that parts of the Napa Valley are known for. And it was André who clarified and answered numerous questions Tony had about vines.

After finishing high school Tony enrolled at Napa Valley College, taking pre-veterinary course work with the intent to transfer to UC Davis. He was getting ready to transfer to Davis when André turned his career path on end and suggested Tony work at a winery. Tony was already friends with the Mondavi family and André suggested he go talk to Robert Mondavi.

So, Tony did, and without an appointment he showed up at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1973, merely 6 years after his iconic winery had opened – and asked to see Robert himself. The secretary obliged his request and Robert asked, “so you want a job” and during their conversation offered him a job in the cellar with the caveat that Tony start at 1pm that same day. Tony ended up working 83 days straight that harvest – he enjoyed the work recalling in contrast to 100-degree days out in the vineyards, he was in the cool confines of the winery. And it was his work in the cellar that gave him perspective; his prior work in the vineyard began to make sense after he spent some time working among the tanks and barrels.

Robert and Michael built a little tasting section next to the lab room – using tables that would rotate and a surface that one could easily write on. Bob, Michael and several other early employees including Cellar master Brad Warner and winemaker Zelma Long (who was hired in 1973) would sit around these tables tasting samples from barrel and tank and writing their notes on the table.

After working all day in the winery, Tony would often walk upstairs, find their samples still sitting on the table and read their corresponding notes. One day he walked into the lab and spotted Robert Mondavi still sitting by himself at one of the tables. Apologizing for walking in unannounced and addressing him as “Mr. Mondavi”, Robert quickly told him to just call him Bob. He said, “I understand you’ve been coming in here and tasting the wines every night” and he continued with, “if more people were as interested in wines as you are, imagine what we would accomplish”!

Tony was eventually offered a job as cellar master and worked at Robert Mondavi Winery in a variety of positions until they sold to Constellation Brands in 2004. After the sale, Michael and Rob asked Tony to continue working with them.

Vineyards
Michael Mondavi purchased the Animo Vineyard on Atlas Peak in 1999. While specifically looking to acquire hillside property, he visited the site with his family. At the time, it was covered in chaparral and had never been planted to vines. His daughter, Dina, who had studied in Florence, suggested the Italian word animo—referring to its “soul” or “spirit”—after seeing the property for the first time. The name stuck, and the 15-acre site was eventually planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon.

In 2006, Michael Mondavi Family Estate purchased the Oso Vineyard (oso meaning “bear” in Spanish) on the back side of Howell Mountain. The vineyard faces mostly east, overlooking Pope Valley. This 129-acre site was an existing vineyard at the time of purchase; however, over the years, the family replanted a number of the vines, including adding a head-pruned block of Cabernet Franc and removing Chardonnay in favor of more suitable red varieties. In 2022, the estate sold this vineyard to the PlumpJack Collection.

Oso Vineyard, formerly owned by Michael Mondavi

Select Wines
Animo
The 2021 Michael Mondavi Animo Heritage Sauvignon Blanc, Atlas Peak Napa Valley. This wine was aged for 7 months in French oak of which 15% were new barrels. Its heritage designation refers to cuttings that Michael originally took from the old I-Block at To Kalon Vineyard at Robert Mondavi winery. This wine is pale straw and color; aromatically vibrant, the nose reveals scents of pineapple, guava, honeysuckle, star jasmine, lychee and Comice pear. The palate is beautifully flavored with notes of golden delicious apple, ripe pear, honeycomb, apricot, white nectarine, pineapple, white peach and pineapple guava. Sweetly fruited, the herbal characteristics this variety is known for are minimal. But its acidity is bright and fresh and lingers with a mouthwatering sensation.

Oberon
While at Robert Mondavi Winery, Michael had begun several wine projects including the labels, Oberon and Hangtime. After the sale of Robert Mondavi Winery to Constellation Brands, Constellation decided to sell off several brands including Oberon and Hangtime, and Michael purchased them back. 2001 was the first vintage of Oberon Wines – a Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend. Oberon would become the first of several labels eventually launched by Michael Mondavi Family Estate.

A few names were originally in the running including Larkspur and Red Square, but ultimately Oberon was the most popular choice. The name refers to the ‘king of all the fairies’ in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This brand is highly value conscious and overdelivers for its price point. While most of the wines are from grapes grown in Napa Valley, several of their bottlings are from Paso Robles.

Whites
The 2017 Oberon Sauvignon Blanc draws its character from the diverse terroirs of Pope Valley and Carneros. In the cellar, Tony pursues a specific texture and “finishing touch” by fermenting the juice in both stainless steel and oak barrels, which are stirred weekly. This vintage is further elevated by an 18% inclusion of Sauvignon Musqué, contributing aromatic layers of citrus blossom, lemon zest, and lemongrass. The wine strikes a perfect balance between mid-palate weight and lively acidity, showing great energy. Distinct notes of apple and kiwi are underscored by a fine mineral thread, culminating in a crisp, beautifully sustained finish.

Tony has extensive experience working with Chardonnay including for Grand Archer/Arrowood in Sonoma County and while working in Chile. He prefers a wine from this variety that stays away from the over-oaked and buttery style of this wine, what he calls the ‘1980s style of Chardonnay’.

The 2017 Oberon Los Carneros Chardonnay was expertly crafted using a unique approach where primary and secondary fermentations occurred simultaneously. Aged in up to 30% new French oak, the wine was further enhanced with a thoughtful “kiss” of Muscat to elevate its aromatic complexity. In the glass, it presents a beautiful pale straw hue, leading into an immediately engaging bouquet of ripe pineapple, warm caramel, toasted almond, and bright citrus. On the palate, four key elements harmonize to create a standout experience: a deep richness of flavor, a luxurious creamy texture, a vibrant spine of acidity, and an impeccable overall balance. While it pairs beautifully with food, this elegant bottling is distinctive enough to drink exceptionally well on its own.

Reds
Prior to labeling this wine, Tony was struggling to come up with the appropriate packaging and color scheme. During breakfast one day at the winery, Tony was eating a cup of yogurt, he vividly remembers it being Yoplait Orange Crème. A lightbulb went off in his head and he grabbed the cup of yogurt and raced over to the company that the Mondavi’s used for their capsules. He dumped the yogurt out on a plate and declared, ‘see, this is the color we will use for the Sauvignon Blanc!”

Tony has learned over the years that Merlot is a very site-specific variety; it doesn’t always do well in hot conditions, crashing as he calls it when the vines are subjected to long periods of little water and low humidity. It does best when it has access to deep soils and some moisture – for instance closer to the Napa River or in parts of the valley where dew forms at night (versus growing on the dryer eastern slopes of the Vaca mountain range).

The 2016 Oberon Napa Valley Merlot is predominantly sourced from the prestigious Oakville district, with select parcels of Syrah and Zinfandel thoughtfully integrated into the final blend to add structure and spice. Noticeably dark and concentrated in the glass, this wine reveals a pretty bouquet defined by savory depth; aromas of aged cedar box, forest mushroom, and cigar smoke mingle with an earthy character and hints of sun-dried rock. A subtle nuance of wild sage further elevates the aromatic profile. On the palate, this approachable offering delivers an abundance of fruit, led by plush plum and dark black cherry. The mouthfeel is notably juicy and ripe, striking a perfect poise without leaning into over-ripeness. To conclude, the fine-grained tannins are seamlessly integrated, providing a smooth and polished finish.

The 2017 Oberon Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon is a balanced blend, enhanced with small percentages of Syrah and Merlot to build complexity and depth. In the glass, it displays a deep, vibrant ruby hue. The aromatics are initially bright and expressive, offering an elegant floral lift and hints of red licorice; as the wine breathes, it reveals layers of mocha, dried tobacco, and subtle spice. While many Napa Cabernets lean toward heavy black fruit, this bottling features a lively profile of red fruit, specifically ripe cherry and red currant, complemented by just a “kiss” of dark chocolate on the mid-palate. Though the tannins remain slightly tightly wound in their youth, they are polished rather than coarse, providing a firm structure that suggests excellent aging potential. This balance of fruit and acidity makes it an exceptionally food-friendly wine, perfect for pairing with a variety of savory dishes.

Hospitality
Private tastings by appointment are held in one of several spaces at Brasswood Winery located just north of St. Helena. And Brasswood is also where the family produces many of their wines. This winery complex is a comfortable place to hang out and an hour can quickly turn into two with good friends and excellent wines. Formerly the St. Helena Factory Outlets, the property now features a number of tasting rooms, the physical winery, an art gallery and a restaurant and a gourmet deli.

This is a very unique Napa Valley property. It is approximately 50 acres and straddles two sub appellations including Spring Mountain and St. Helena. While no grapes are currently planted on the property for commercial use, they have up to 20 acres to develop in the future. The property also comes with a variety of valuable permits – one being the extremely rare Napa permit to allow weddings on site.

This “campus” if you will, features four tasting rooms including the main tasting room where most walk-in visitors will taste wines), The Winemaker’s Den, an appointment only room across from the main tasting room, the Vintner’s Den just outside of the wine cave and one within the winery.

The property allows a number of their custom crush wineries to host visitors. Guests interested in tasting the limited production wines from Michel Mondavi can reserve several visit options including a sit-down tasting or a longer experience in which their wines are paired with a several course lunch from Brasswood Bar + Kitchen.

Food is an integral part of the property. Brasswood Bar + Kitchen is a Gastro Pub; the large window behind the bar looks north towards the actual winery facility; you can watch harvest activities on the crush pad during September and October from your bar-stool seat! Their founding chef has Michelin three-star experience; he joined them previously from The Restaurant at Meadowood, also located in St. Helena. The sizable commercial kitchen easily has enough space to accommodate both the restaurant and the cafe’s needs. Weather permitting, guests can eat outside on the patio overlooking the grounds, a great place to see and be seen, inside in the booths or at the bar.

Some of the fresh ingredients used by chef are sourced directly from the property – from a culinary garden growing on the south side of the property.

This experience typically lasts a minimum of 90 minutes up to 2.5 hours for a more leisurely lunch and occurs outside on the Brasswood patio (weather permitting) or inside the restaurant. The Michael Mondavi Family wines are poured in between each course.

We always recommend guests coming to Brasswood Estate to arrive early to spend some time browsing the grounds including The Shop at Brasswood + Mercantile. This small store offers a collection of hand selected products from around the globe – it is a unique shopping experience for this part of Napa Valley. Both men and women’s fashion, home décor, artisan jewelry, culinary tools, fine textiles, ceramics, hand-blown glass, specialty cosmetics and even a few electronics are available.

And this shop also contains wines from Brasswood wine partners as well as products from Brasswood Spirits, American whiskey, gin and vodka.

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For more information, to purchase wines, or to schedule a tasting, visit: www.foliowine.com, www.michaelmondavifamilyestate.com, and www.noblemerchants.com (online merchant – selling their wines exclusively).

ARCHIVED NOTES
Feast it Forward
Oberon was one of up to eighteen vintners featured in The Studio by Feast it Forward (opened in June 2018) located directly across from the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa. This two-story building housed an “experiential showroom”, as founder Katie Hamilton Shaffer called it – with a focus on wine, food and music. In 2026, Feast it Forward transitioned into a private members social club. We keep our notes here for historical reference.

Each vintner represented offered several wines; several of the showroom’s sponsors had prominent placement including guitars from Gibson Brands, Inc. and furniture from Crosley. A Chocolate tasting was also offered oddly enough sponsored by Sherman Williams and a vinyl station was offered for playing a variety of old records. Upstairs featured a demo kitchen – when shows were being filmed here, televisions downstairs broadcasted the live feed. This kitchen was also be used for guest chefs to offer culinary classes.

The site was able to be used for a number of events; they had plenty of space in the back of the building. The Ultimate Airstream Film Lounge trailer was often be parked in the back – they used this trailer when they were on the road hosting unique lifestyle events, and it also served for private tastings on site or for special events. One such event at the showroom was “Terrible Tuesdays” in which bad films with cult like followings were shown.

The second floor featured a sizable surround building deck – and a swinging ‘bed’. This was an ideal perch to watch passerbys going to Oxbow Public Market or those enjoying the park next to the Napa River. These were also some of the best seats in the area to watch live performances at the nearby green.

Folio Winery, Carneros
NOTE: We keep these notes for historical reference. In 2006 Michael, Isabel, Dina and Rob Mondavi purchased the old Carneros Creek Winery on the Napa side of Carneros originally built by France Mahoney; this housed their own production as well as served as a custom crush facility for a number of other wineries.

Never fully utilizing the amount of space at their disposal, in 2014, the Mondavi’s sold the physical winery and surrounding 13 acres of vineyards to Kieu Hoang, a Vietnamese born businessman (US citizen). The sale in no way involved any of the Michael Mondavi Family Estate wines. This winery has since been sold again and is now called Ru Vango.