About Gallo Wines
Gallo wines are some of the most recognised and familiar wines on shelves. However, in the US they have taken a bit of a marketing turn from just Gallo so they are less visible these days, but rest assured some of your favourites are almost certainly owned by them.
The Gallo winery and brand was created in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio. They pioneered the production of bottled, fresh Californian wines, and were some of the first to export their wines around the world. Today, it is still totally family owned, with children, grand children and now great grandchildren involved in the business.
Gallo were one of the first major wine brands to establish themselves as a giant, and unlike many other brands, which diversified into other countries, they have stayed true to their Californian roots. They even re-branded to Gallo Family Vineyards, at least in the UK, re emphasising the importance of the family.
They own some of the biggest wineries in the world, and vineyards throughout the Central Coast and Sonoma regions of California, and produce a wide range of varietal wines.
Recent additions to the range include the new superstar on the block, Gallo Moscato and lifestyle brand Gallo Summer Rose.
What Styles Of Wine Do Gallo Produce?
Gallo wines are fresh, fruity and vibrant, across a variety of different styles. The emphasis is on fun, easy-drinking wines, which are made for sharing.
The range starts with a medium dry white, a medium sweet Rose and a fruity, soft, off dry red. The next step up is a wide range of varietal wines.
White wines – there’s a crisp, zesty Gallo Sauvignon Blanc, a soft, peachy Gallo Pinot Grigio, and a smooth, tropical fruit scented Gallo Chardonnay. Gallo have also spearheaded the new wine craze in America, the lower alcohol and sweetly grapey Moscato.
Rose wines – Gallo became famous with its lightly sweet, raspberry fruit flavoured Gallo White Grenache and Gallo White Zinfandel, and these are still some of the most popular brands in the range. They’ve now added a fruity Gallo Pink Moscato Rose to complement the selection.
Red wines – the red wine range covers all the main grape varieties that are grown in California; a soft, delicately scented Pinot Noir, and a juicy, plum and chocolate spiced Gallo Merlot; ripe, fruity, currant Cabernet, and blackberry spiced Shiraz, together with a smooth, velvety Zinfandel, the native grape of California.
Summer wines – in 2011, Gallo launched a new red, ‘Gallo summer red’, which has since been discontinued in the UK. It was a lighter, juicy, medium dry style, designed to be served chilled. Fruity, grapey, and a real winner, having been praised by a top team of judges at the ‘What Food what wine’ competition, for being the perfect wine to go with strawberries and cream. Following this, Gallo launched ‘Gallo summer white’, a lightly sweet, peach and passion fruit flavoured white, at only 5.5% alcohol – the perfect picnic wine.