Although he never knew vintner Robert Mondavi, Joshua Carbajal is overjoyed at being able to spread the gospel of the renowned wine industry icon.

A wine educator at the Mondavi flagship winery in Oakville, Carbajal spends his days — and at least one night a week — telling valley visitors about the man who put California on the world’s wine map, and the launch of the best-known American wine brand.

“We’re in the people business,” says the young tour guide as he pours a glass of the roundly praised 2007 reserve pinot noir from Carneros. “The vehicle we use (to communicate) is wine.

“That’s why Robert was here ... his wine was his connection to people. Robert Mondavi helped educate America about wine and its enjoyment. That led to us becoming the number one nation of wine consumers in the world today.”

Carbajal is slightly awed at his current lot in life as a wine educator “at the place where it all started. This is where the pebble was first thrown in the pond.”

He takes his job seriously, treading lightly “in Robert’s footsteps” as he guides a small group of visitors through the To Kalon Cellar and into the vineyards on the winery’s new Twilight Tour, conducted twice a week at the end of the work day.

“We started it this summer at 5:30 on Friday afternoons, as a way to learn something about the history of the winery and our wines,” Carbajal notes. “It’s become so popular that we’ve added a second one at 5:30 on Thursdays.”

Limited to 15 visitors, the Twilight Tour begins as the sun slips behind the western hills. The program follows a path opposite that of the usual tours, first through cellar and barrel aging rooms, concluding with a walk in the demonstration vineyard. “Then we taste our reserve and spotlight (which includes single vineyard) wines along with artisanal cheeses,” he added. Cost of the Twilight Tour is $45.

In addition, the winery has just added Harvest Happenings to the Friday schedule. Guests enjoy a glass of wine and music at the winery at the end of the workday (5 to 7 p.m.) at a cost of $10 per person.

The Twilight Tour is only one of the new visitor opportunities added to the tours and tastings lineup at the Robert Mondavi Winery in late spring and early summer, says Jocelyn Hoar, visitor center manager.

In addition to tasting a wide variety of Mondavi wines, Hoar said visitors are provided with information about the winery’s winegrowing efforts involving organic, regenerative, biodynamic and sustainable farming practices.

In keeping with Robert Mondavi’s philosophy, wine educators “promote the enjoyment of wine, food and the arts together as part of our culture, heritage and gracious way of life,” Hoar added.

More than a dozen

In addition to the Twilight Tour scheduled Thursdays and Fridays at 5:30, Robert Mondavi Winery also offers a wide variety of tours, tastings, educational and food and wine pairing visitor experiences. For information about and reservations for all tours, call the winery at (888) 766-6328, ext. 2.

Signature Tour and Tasting

Offered daily on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round. Advance reservations are recommended. Approximately 75 minutes, this tour follows the grape from the vineyard to the finished wine. View To Kalon Vineyard and the inner workings of the winery. The tour concludes with a tasting of three wines. $25/person; limited to 15 guests (Note: Children under 13 are not permitted.)

Discovery Tour

Offered daily every hour May, September and October; every half hour June through August from        10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Available on a walk-in basis only, this 30-minute walking tour includes a taste of two wines. Complimentary for children under 13. $15/person; limited to 20 guests.

Wine Tasting Basics

Offered daily at lO a.m. A 45-minute tasting led by a wine educator covers how to read wine labels, why we swirl wine in the glass, and how to smell, taste and describe wine. $15/person; limited to 15 guests.

Reserve Tasting

Offered daily by appointment. Spend a quiet hour with a wine educator tasting a variety of limited production, reserve and older vintage wines in the barrel-aging cellar. $50/person; limited to 10 guests.

The ‘Harvest of Joy’ tour and lunch

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 11:30 a.m., this program begins with a tour of the winery, followed by a three-course lunch paired with wines, prepared by winery chef Jeff Mosher. 2 1/2 hours; $100/person, all-inclusive; limited to 10 guests.

Al fresco lunch in the garden

Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 a.m., June through October. This 2 1/2 hour experience begins with a tour of the To Kalon Cellar followed by a family-style, seasonal lunch accompanied by wine. $85/person; limited to 12 guests.

To Kalon vineyard trek and picnic lunch

Sunday at 11:30 a.m., June through October. Tour the To Kalon Vineyard and finish the day at the winery with a picnic lunch. This program lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours. $75/person; limited to        8 guests.

Wine and chocolate expressions

Offered Saturday at 3 p.m. Explore Woodhouse chocolates paired with red and white Robert Mondavi Winery wines. $50/person; limited to 10 guests.

The ‘Four Decades’ tasting and dinner

Offered by advance reservation, taste wines from each of the last three decades as well as a selection of current releases, capped by dinner in the Vineyard Room. $250/person; available for 6 to 10 guests.

Aromas and flavors of wine

Offered Saturday at 11 a.m. or by appointment for groups of 6-10, this 90-minute adventure explores the flavor profile of wine and the influences of soil, climate and the hand of the winemaker. $45/person; limited to 10 guests.

The balance of wine

Available by appointment for trade or groups of 6-8, a two-hour program to taste and discuss the sensations of tannin, acid, alcohol and sweetness and how they all work together. $45/person; limited to 8 guests.

A formal guided tasting

Sunday at 11 a.m. or by appointment for groups of 6-12. Recommended for more experienced wine tasters. $45/person; limited to 12 guests.