8/1/2023 0 Comments Franzia wines![]() But opportunity knocked in the 1980s, as Bronco began buying foreclosed vineyards and selling much of the fruit to other producers. ![]() He held a disdain for high-end wine.īronco was originally set up as a négociant, sourcing bulk wine and also distributing other brands. In a 2006 article, Wine Spectator labeled Fred the "Bad Boy of California Wine” for his mantra that fine wine was overrated and overpriced. He liked nothing more than buying excess wine from top producers and blending it into his value-priced bottlings. with a brazen attitude and no-holds-barred business practices, closely watching grape price trends so he could find value and pass it along to customers. ![]() He built Bronco into one of the largest wine producers in the U.S. Over the years Franzia developed a reputation for brash dealmaking and acerbic remarks, renowned for verbally sparring with the likes of Robert Mondavi and Sam Sebastiani. Franzia was also the nephew-in-law of Ernest Gallo. The Franzias operated Bronco in Modesto, Calif., with a wine lineup primarily sourced from bulk wine in California's Central Valley. Bronco is well-known for its budget line of Charles Shaw wines, known affectionately as "Two Buck Chuck" and sold almost exclusively at Trader Joe's grocery stores. with his brother and cousin in 1973, shortly after his family sold their Franzia wine brand to the Coca-Cola Company. ![]() He will be remembered as a larger-than-life character who expanded the reach of California wine with budget bottlings that offered consistent quality.įranzia founded Bronco Wine Co. best-known for his Charles Shaw brand, aka "Two Buck Chuck," passed away Sept. Longtime California vintner Fred Franzia, the co-founder of Bronco Wine Co. ![]()
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