E. & J. Gallo Winery

Gallo takes the high road by Stagecoach

California-based E. & J. Gallo, for a long time the largest family-owned wine company in the U.S. but now in the world as well with a huge portfolio of some 80 brands, has announced its recent purchase of Stagecoach Vineyards in the Napa Valley. This sizeable property, whose 600 acres (243 hectares) planted to vine constitute the largest contiguous vineyard in the whole Napa Valley, is located in the Pritchard Hill area. This prestigious and trendy hillside sector of the Vaca Mountains is home to Bryant and Chappellet as well as Tim Mondavi’s Continuum.

Stagecoach was founded in 1995 by Dr. Jan Krupp, not as wine brand, but as a grape growing operation.  As befits its name, the early years were a bumpy road as Krupp and his partners developed the vineyard on the rugged volcanic soil. In time, Stagecoach became known in the valley for its quality fruit sourced by other leading premium brands such as Caymus, Duckhorn, and Pahlmeyer, as well as by Gallo for its Louis Martini winery. In the official announcement of the acquisition, Roger Nabedian, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Gallo’s Premium Wine Division, explains the strategy behind it : “This purchase affirms Gallo’s commitment to compete in the luxury wine segment and provides us the opportunity to continue making and selling luxury wine offerings such as Louis M. Martini, William Hill Estate and Orin Swift.”

Since brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo began to turn their dream into reality over 80 years ago, the roots of the Gallo family tree have extended deep into the Winery. Today their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren work in the Winery, carrying on the family tradition and values – a strong work ethic, a drive for perfection and a focus on quality. The Gallo family still believes family ownership is the most effective way for the Winery to continue as a world leader in the wine industry. Today, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the largest exporter of California wine.

At E. & J. Gallo Winery, we produce wine for every taste and occasion. Our goal is to deliver superior value and experience to consumers each and every time they share and enjoy our wines. To attain that goal, we’ve assembled teams of highly-skilled employees to manage our ever-growing brand portfolio. Our marketing teams collaborate with colleagues in Winemaking, Consumer Insights and other areas of expertise to deliver brand strategy, while our sales professionals strive to bring a better wine experience to consumers.

It's no secret that healthy vines grow the best grapes, and ultimately make the best-tasting wines. Our vineyards provide diverse soils and growing conditions, including cool coastal climates along the rugged Central Coast; the unique combination of warm days and cool nights found in Sonoma and Napa Counties; and the hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters of the Central Valley. At E. & J. Gallo Winery, our talented vineyard teams maximize winegrape quality while minimizing the impact on the soil and surrounding environment. They nurture and maintain the vineyards with knowledge, instinct and skill, turning what nature provides into a bountiful harvest of the finest quality winegrapes.

At E. & J. Gallo Winery, our passion for quality never stops. Although the art of making wine is more than 5,000 years old, we always ask questions and apply what we learn so we can improve the evolution of wine from the vine to the bottle – and ultimately to your glass. Ernest and Julio Gallo were committed to constantly improving their products, and today we carry on that commitment by tapping into the tools that have emerged over time to help us create better wines than ever before.

While it’s true that great wines are made in the vineyard, it takes a skilled and discerning winemaker to recognize the value of the fruit and craft it into a great wine. At E. & J. Gallo Winery, we’re proud to have world-class winemakers around the globe, who learn from one another and artfully create award-winning wines recognized by critics and consumers alike for their quality and value. Whether you want wine for a backyard barbecue or as a gift for a friend’s wine cellar, our winemakers strive to ensure that our wines will enrich any occasion.