Tony Coltrin,
Director of Winemaking
Folio Fine Wine Partners
Tony Coltrin brings more than 35 years of winemaking experience to his role as Director of Winemaking, which includes making wines for Hangtime. He grew up in St. Helena, working and playing in the vineyards, and one day the grandfather of one of his closest friends suggested Tony work a harvest at Robert Mondavi Winery. In 1973, Robert Mondavi Winery was leading the industry in innovative practices. The harvest experience peaked Tony’s interest and turned into a 30-year-long career with Robert and Michael Mondavi that went from dragging hoses and shoveling fermenters in the cellar to becoming Cellarmaster and then Winemaker. When the company sold, Tony joined Michael Mondavi and his son Rob in making the fine wines of Folio.
”Over the years I have come to believe that great wine is not only a reflection of soil, climate, and grape varieties, but equally an intimate expression of the passion of the people behind it,” says Tony. “If the grapes are the heart of a wine…the people are its soul.”
Tony finds inspiration from his family, including his artistic mother, his wife, Sandra—an artist and pastry chef—and his son, Sam. He’s also been inspired by the grandfather of his childhood friend, and by his continuing relationship with the Michael Mondavi family.
In his spare time, Tony’s passion for the outdoors equals his passion for winemaking. He cycles, fly fishes, kayaks, surfs, hunts, runs, skis cross-country, plays baseball and soccer, and tinkers with his motorcycles—all with Sam at his side.
Robert Michael Mondavi, Jr. (Rob)
President of Winegrowing & Partner
As the son of Michael and Isabel Mondavi, Rob’s earliest memories are of playing among the vines and barrels at Robert Mondavi Winery.
He has held a variety of positions in his family’s company, gaining experience in all aspects of vineyard and winery management, hospitality and business operations. The first job he held was under Tony Coltrin, current Director of Winemaking. Twelve-year-old Rob followed Tony through the cellars, hardly big enough to help turn and wash barrels. A few years later, Rob started his own business hosting mountain bike tours through Napa Valley wine country. After he graduated from the University of Santa Clara in 1994, with a degree in English Literature, he made his first wines at his family’s Vichon Winery.
Soon afterwards, Rob went to work in sales for Southern Wine & Spirits to learn more about the distributor side of the industry. He also spent a year in Panama, educating himself about international business culture, and when he returned to Napa Valley, he decided to try his hand at importing. In 1996, Rob established the Napa Cigar Company, a manufacturer and importer of premium cigars from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and the Canary Islands.
Rob joined the Robert Mondavi Corporation in 2000, as a luxury brands Sales Manager. Soon he became Sales Director, responsible for developing and managing sales of the company’s imported wines from Australia, Chile and Italy in more than 20 states. He went on to serve as Director of Marketing for Robert Mondavi Winery, spearheading the winery’s trade marketing initiatives. He and his family founded Folio Fine Wine Partners in 2004, with the vision of producing and importing the most exciting wines from established and emerging wine regions. Currently he focuses on winemaking and vineyards with his old friend Tony Coltrin.