Ep 14 - Leadership and Mentorship in the Wine Biz

Hit the Bottle

Welcome back Hit the Bottle with your host, Michael Wangbickler.

They say, “You should never meet your heroes.” The people that you admire may disappoint you by not living up to your expectations when you encounter them in real life. The internet is full of horror stories about people meeting their celebrity idols and being crushed by the experience. Leadership comes at a price.

While Mike has had the opportunity to meet his heroes (most of which are in the wine biz, naturally), it’s always been a dream come true. That was the case when he had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Mondavi late last year and chat about leadership in the beverage business. It’s an experience he won’t soon forget.

The Mondavi name is synonymous with wine in the Napa Valley. The family has been truly instrumental in the ascendance of California wine over the past 100 years. For his part, Michael has been a leader and mentor to at least three generations of wine professionals. He’s been an idol of Mike’s for at least 20 years. So, you can imagine how geeked he was when Michael Mondavi agreed to be on the show.

Leadership is one of those nebulous ideas that can be hard for some to grasp. The expression “born leader” is frequently bandied about, but we are of the opinion that leaders are made, not born. So, chatting with a true leader and hearing their perspective, is truly something special. This episode is precious to Mike, and we hope you find it equally valuable.

Let’s get on with the show.

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