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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1





                                       July 1, 2001



The Robert Mondavi Corporation
841 Latour Court
Napa, CA 94558

RE:       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM  S-8
          REGISTRATION OF 650,000 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In my capacity as General Counsel of The Robert Mondavi Corporation, a
California corporation (the "Company"), I have represented the Company in
connection with the registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of 650,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock, without par value ("Common Stock"), to be sold by the Company pursuant to
its Amended and Restated 1993 Equity Incentive Plan and its 1993 Non-Employee
Director's Stock Option Plan.

         Based upon such investigation as I deemed necessary for purposes of
this opinion, I am of the opinion that the shares of Common Stock have been duly
and validly authorized by the Company, and that the shares of Common Stock, when
sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

         I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       /s/ MIKE BEYER
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Mike Beyer
                                       Senior Vice President
                                       General Counsel




