THE HOUSE OF MONDAVI The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty

How did a family business, a billion-dollar enterprise such as the House of Mondavi, find itself open to a hostile takeover? Was it hubris, bad financial management, or a bit of both? Listening to Alan Sklar is always worthwhile, but with a story this fraught with biblical dimensions and Elizabethan complexities, he absolutely enthralls. Even with ambition, sibling rivalry, betrayal, and exile as staples of the story, Sklar doesn't overdramatize. His sensitive narration does more than air the family's wine-spotted linens in public. Thanks to Siler's meticulous research, through interviews with all principal family members, court documents, and depositions, and Sklar's vibrant performance, the story doesn't deteriorate into a soap opera. Instead it offers fascinating insights into a dysfunctional family and the wine-growing industry in Napa. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]