E & J Gallo Winery

E. & J. Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E. & J. Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines.

History

The two brothers started the winery following the repeal of Prohibition after years of growing and selling grapes. Ernest and Julio were competing against larger, more established, and better financed companies, including more than 800 wine companies in the first few years after Prohibition in California alone. Their starting capital was less than $6,000, with $5,000 of that borrowed by Ernest from his mother-in-law. They learned the craft of commercial winemaking by reading old, pre-Prohibition pamphlets published by the University of California which they retrieved from the basement of the Modesto Public Library (Zimmerman).

In 1988 the Gallo brothers sued their half-brother Joseph for selling cheese branded with the Joseph Gallo Farms name. Joseph then counterclaimed, alleging that Ernest and Julio conspired to steal his share of the inheritance from their father. This claim included the winery, which evidence submitted by Joseph's attorney's suggested was actually started by the father. Joseph Gallo lost both suits and was forced to change his business name to Joseph Farms [4].

Today, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the largest family-owned winery in the United States. This is reflected, in part, in the recent introduction of the Gallo Family Vineyards brand. The new brand recognizes the nearly 75 years of involvement of the Gallo family in the wine business (13 members of the family’s second- and third-generation work for the company) and their promise to consumers to consistently deliver the best quality wine for the value. In addition to the Gallo Family Vineyards brand, the company makes wine under other labels including Louis M. Martini, Mirassou Vineyards, MacMurray Ranch, Rancho Zabaco, Ecco Domani, Frei Brothers, Red Bicyclette, Bella Sera, Turning Leaf, Black Swan, Sebeka, Twin Valley, Napa Valley Vineyards, Barefoot, Thunderbird, Night Train Express, and Bridlewood.[5]

On September 14, 2007, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that it inked a partnership with E & J Gallo Winery to produce a wine brand with label "Martha Stewart Vintage" (for sale in 6 cities, January, at $15). 15,000 cases to be sold include: 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2005 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon and 2006 Sonoma County Merlot (for Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon). Martha Stewart also signed contract with Costco Wholesale Corp. to offer frozen and fresh food (label - Kirkland Signature).^[1]

Production

In the vineyard, E. & J. Gallo Winery took the lead in developing and implementing the Code of Sustainable Wine Growing Practices, in a collaborative effort with the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. The Code promotes sustainable practices which are environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable. It covers virtually every aspect of the wine business including viticulture and grape growing, wine making, purchasing and building and maintaining productive relationships with neighbors and the local communities. E. & J. Gallo Winery also was the first winery in the United States to receive the prestigious ISO 14001 certification from the International Organization for Standardization.

Marketing

Through their winery, Ernest and Julio were instrumental in introducing American consumers to wine and creating the modern U.S. wine market.

Wine brands

André is a brand of sparkling wine produced by the E & J Gallo Winery. It is the best-selling brand of sparkling wine in the United States.^[2] It often sells for less than $4 per bottle. It is available in varieties including Brut, Extra Dry and Strawberry flavored California Champagne, among others.^[3]

One wine critic describes André's Brut California Champagne as "the sparkling wine (I use the term loosely) that many people cut their teeth on. It is much like ginger ale - pale yellow in color, lemony and on the sweet side, with maybe an apple flavor as well and low bubbles". André's California Champagne is not made using traditional Champagne-making methods. Instead, it is bulk-fermented.^[4]

Carlo Rossi is a brand of wine produced by the E. & J. Gallo Winery. The brand was named after Charles Rossi, at the time a salesman for Gallo and a relation of the Gallo family by marriage. Charlie Rossi starred in TV ads for the brand in the 1970s. Carlo Rossi is reflected in popular culture in E-40's single, "Carlos Rossi," and in indie culture in the name of the Carlo Rossi Jug Band. Carlo Rossi wines at one time were the second best selling brand in the United States. [6]

Awards

E. & J. Gallo Winery ranks among the world’s most award-winning wineries and is the only American winery to be named "International Winery of the Year" three times (1998, 2001 and 2002).[7]

External links

E.&J. Gallo Winery
Gallo Family Vineyards (UK)
[8] 2006 public radio interview with co-president Joe Gallo.
Straight Dope: Does the "Gallo Law" exempt the winery from estate taxes?

References

[1] Yahoo.com, Martha Stewart to sell signature wine

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