Wine: E. & J. Gallo Winery

CAROL ANGRISANI

RETAILERS KNOW they can count on E. & J. Gallo Winery for wines for all tastes, occasions and price ranges. From everyday values to high-end offerings, Gallo's breadth of brands meet both consumer and retailer needs alike.

“It has a great cross-section of products, from the inexpensive to really good high-end wines that are not overpriced,” said Dave Schmerr, beer and wine director, Jungle Jim's International Market, Fairfield, Ohio.

E. & J. Gallo Winery markets over 60 brands, including table and sparkling wines, malt beverage products, dessert wines and distilled spirits. On the domestic side of its business, its brands span from Barefoot to Gallo to Turning Leaf to the new “Apotheca.”

E. & J. Gallo Winery supports its assortment with consumer insights, category management and marketing.

Last year, Jungle Jim's tied into a proprietary Gallo-sponsored food pairing website.

As for other support, Gallo sends sales reps to stores to explain new wines and what they're all about. It did just that with its new Apotheca red, which Jungle Jim's started carrying about three weeks ago. Gallo reps met with Schmerr and his associates to discuss the wine's background and test market results.

Gallo has also influenced Jungle Jim's schematics. It suggested that, due to the growing popularity of moscato wine, its Barefoot Moscato be placed at eye level. Jungle Jim's typically doesn't place value wine at eye level, but decided that there should be an exception due to strong demand.

COMPANY TO WATCH

CONSTELLATION BRANDS: Constellation continues to expand its assortment with new and offerings. It recently launched its first German wine in the U.S.: Blüfeld, a sweet riesling. What makes the wine unique is that it's from the Mosel Valley — Germany's most prestigious wine region.