Continuum Estate was founded by Tim Mondavi, the son of the late Robert Mondavi, as a personal statement of what he believed Napa Valley could achieve at its absolute best. After leaving Robert Mondavi Winery following its sale to Constellation Brands in 2004, Tim and his sister Marcia Mondavi Borger set out to create an estate that carried the Mondavi family commitment to quality without the corporate constraints that had come to define the larger label. They chose Pritchard Hill, a dramatic high-elevation zone above Lake Hennessey in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, and planted a single estate vineyard to produce a single wine: Continuum, a Bordeaux-style blend that Tim views as the summation of everything he has learned about Napa Cabernet.

The Mondavi Legacy Continues at Pritchard Hill

Tim Mondavi grew up making wine in the shadow of his father Robert, one of the most transformative figures in the history of Napa Valley. After Robert Mondavi Winery was sold to Constellation Brands in 2004, Tim found himself without an estate for the first time in his professional life. His response was to seek out the most challenging and potentially rewarding piece of Napa Valley ground he could find, and he settled on Pritchard Hill, a high-elevation volcanic zone above Lake Hennessey that had been identified for decades as having exceptional potential but had remained largely underdeveloped due to the difficulty of farming at altitude. Tim and his sister Marcia planted the Continuum estate vineyard starting in 2005 and produced the first commercial vintage in 2005, with the formal estate opening in the years following.

Tim Mondavi chose to make only one wine at Continuum, because he believes great winemaking is about saying everything through one bottle rather than spreading the statement thin.

Pritchard Hill: Elevation, Volcanic Soil, and Natural Tension

Pritchard Hill rises above 1,500 feet on the eastern side of Napa Valley, above Lake Hennessey and well above the fog line that covers the valley floor in the mornings. The soils are volcanic and rocky, thin and nutrient-poor, forcing vine roots deep in search of water and nutrients and producing naturally small, concentrated berries. The elevation brings significant day-to-night temperature swings that extend the growing season and preserve the natural acidity and aromatic complexity that make the wines distinctive. Pritchard Hill is home to a small number of other notable estates including Ovid, David Arthur, and Bryant Family Vineyard, and is recognized among Napa insiders as one of the valley’s most exciting high-elevation growing zones.

Continuum: One Wine, One Statement

Continuum is a single Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, produced from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill in proportions that reflect what each vintage delivers. Tim Mondavi produces only one wine because he believes that great winemaking is about focus: choosing the best grapes from the best site and saying everything through one bottle rather than diluting the statement across multiple labels. The wine is built for long aging, typically benefiting from a decade or more of cellaring, and is released only when the winery determines it is ready to begin its drinking window. Production is small and the wine is sold through a mailing list allocation system.

Food Pairing with Continuum

Continuum, with its Pritchard Hill intensity and the structural complexity of the full Bordeaux blend, is one of the more demanding Napa wines at the table. The combination of Cabernet Sauvignon backbone, Cabernet Franc aromatic lift, and the Merlot and Malbec mid-palate richness creates a wine that pairs best with preparations of corresponding complexity and richness. Prime rib with bone marrow, lamb Wellington, dry-aged beef with truffle compound butter, or an elaborate braise with dark wine reduction are all natural companions. The wine is also extraordinary alongside an aged cheese board with Comté, Manchego, and aged Gouda, where the wine’s developed complexity meets the crystalline, nutty character of the cheeses.

Continuum Estate: Frequently Asked Questions