We Ask Angelia Mondavi about Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Fest

As part of our “What We’re Hearing” about Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival at Atlantis (NPIWFF) content series, we are counting the days until the annual event in March 2025!

The five-day celebration of food, wine, spirits, and Bahamian-culture attracts all sorts of talent from celebrity chefs to connoisseurs. We ask Angelina Mondavi, 4th generation winemaker of C. Mondavi Family wines about this year’s event.

Talk to us a bit about Mondavi.

I am Angelina Mondavi, 4th Generation winemaker and Co-proprietress of the C. Mondavi Family. I was at NPIWFF representing two of our brands, Charles Krug Winery (the oldest winery in Napa Valley owned by the Peter Mondavi Sr. Family), as well as another brand from our larger C. Mondavi & Family portfolio, French Blue from Bordeaux, France.

What inspired your involvement with NPIWFF.

We were inspired by being a sponsor for NPIWFF at the beautiful Atlantis property on Paradise Island because we love the opportunity to introduce new consumers to our wines under the C. Mondavi &amp, Family portfolio. In addition, I loved educating consumers on The Blue Project, an organization that educates by supporting and strengthening the global marine ecosystems by way of education, research and community outreach. If our oceans are not healthy, then how can our world survive?

Tell us about your experience this year.

My family sponsored two events, a lunch at Nobu with French Blue as the reception wine (Rosè and Sauvignon blanc), followed by a 5-course meal paired with a variety of our Charles Krug wines (Charles Krug Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros Chardonnay, Napa Valley Merlot, lastly our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon).  Between our local representatives, Chef Nobu and his team, and my team, we had a lot of fun with the pairings! 

The Sauvignon Blanc paired exquisitely with Nobu’s famous jalapeño yellowtail dish, our Chardonnay was paired with the assortment of sushi, followed by the pairing of our Napa Merlot with Chef’s famous miso black cod; the sweetness and luscious merlot, complimented the sweetness of the miso cured black cod, and the finale was a stunning Wagyu dish paired with our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It was absolute perfection if you ask me. The excitement and energy for this event was off the charts, and one I would like to pursue for next year!

The second event was Martha Stewart’s Garden Party, where we had the ability to showcase French Blue Rosè and Sauvignon Blanc. It was the perfect backdrop, and the weather could not have been more inviting to sip on a cold glass of wine. The vibe was festive, with an abundance of fresh florals scattered throughout making it just a fun and whimsical event.

What were some of the highlights?

I embraced the NPIWFF and appreciated their partnership with The Blue Project, which allowed me to understand more about the marine ecosystem in the Bahamas. The ability to interact with aquatic life and be educated on sea turtles, nurse sharks, starfish and horseshoe crabs was exceptional and very informative. Of course, I must mention the ability to interact with celebrity chefs and ask questions, taste their cuisine and local restaurants’ cuisine for each night’s theme was also nothing short of fun, amazing and inspiring!

What are you looking forward to next year?

We are excited and thrilled to be already strategizing for next year. My hope and goal is to be representing more of my family’s wine brands at more events and bring forth more education from the wine side as well. As a sommelier and winemaker, I love educating and making wine fun!

What are some of your biggest takeaways from the event?

I was impressed by The Blue Project and would like to find ways to continue to spread the message. My family is first and foremost farmers, so sustainability and taking care of our land is always front and center. My grandfather, Peter Mondavi Sr. always said, “if we take care of the land, the land will take care of us.” Naturally, The Blue Project, is the same concept! We take care of our oceans; the ocean will take care of us for generations to come.

What would you like people to know who are interested in attending.

The events were amazing, some very interactive and the intimate experiences are worth participating in. From experiencing the walk arounds to being inspired by some even better tastings, this event is worth attending! You get the opportunity to ask celebrity chefs questions, learn what motivates them to be better chefs, and even mentors contribute back to nature in ways one might never think of. I had so much fun interacting with every person I met, everyone was so inquisitive and eager to learn, all while enjoying great food and great wine and spirits. What is there not to love about NPIWFF!