Comments on: Bronco Wine Company & Trader Joe’s Wine

By: rocco

rocco — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:51:46 +0000

For all you Trader Joe Charles Shaw yuppie wine drinkers:

“in 1993 Franzia and Bronco Wine Company were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to defraud by misrepresenting cheaper grapes as premium Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Bronco pleaded no contest and paid a $2.5 million fine. Franzia also pled guilty for his involvement, paid a $500,000 fine

On May 16, 2008, a pregnant, 17 year-old immigrant worker named Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez collapsed and later died while pruning vines at a vineyard east of Stockton, CA owned by West Coast Grape Farming, a division of Bronco Wines. According to witnesses, foremen did nothing to aid Vasquez Jimenez until at least five minutes after she collapsed. Vasquez Jimenez and her fellow laborers were allowed only one water break per day, with each work day lasting at least ten hours.

Additionally, the only water source provided for Vasquez Jimenez and her fellow workers was a 10-minute walk away in temperatures that topped 95 degrees. Employers who are found to have willfully violated heat laws can be fined a maximum of $25,000. The United Farm Workers Union is protesting Vasquez Jimenez’s treatment as an “egregious” violation of Cal-OSHA safety regulations

By: Erich Russell

Erich Russell — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:38:23 +0000

Hi DP

I have no idea on HR5034. The backers of this law make a lot of political contributions and in this environment –politicians need a lot of money to convince everyone that they indeed have done a good job and should be re-elected. Anything that affects shipping would be a disaster to small family wineries that are already treading water as they can not get distribution

By: DP

DP — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:04:21 +0000

Hi Erich,

Everytime I hear of a wine conglomerate taking over another winery, I think of the McDonald’s in Times Square. And the Olive Garden. You have a unique food experience available to you, one of the best in the world, and yet you choose something familiar and inoffensive. Also, I was curious about HR 5034 and any news that might be had.

By: Lu Plauzoles

Lu Plauzoles — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:43:03 +0000

To the faithful of the Bronco empire…what’s happened to Bear’s Lair? The Chardonnay blend so labeled had been a mainstay as a quotidien white at my table and occasionally I served the Merlot or the Viognier at parties. These were certainly no masterpiece, but often a notch higher than the Aussie yellowtails or other mass-market brands. My calendar says I haven’t seen a Bear’s Lair at TJ’s in 11 weeks, which to me says it’s no longer on the list. Problem for me is finding a replacement. Any suggestions, cognoscenti of the everyday quaff?

By: Erich Russell

Erich Russell — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:34:55 +0000

Hi Robert
I am not sure what effect the sale will have on quality. Diagio evidently needs money so who knows on price, it probably depends on inventory level I have not has a BV wine since it was purchased by Diagio–I figured that is when the quality dropped and if it did not there were other Cabs from family’s not corporations to buy. I have sold grapes to these big corporations and its a disaster compared to selling to a family winery interested in quality like for example Justin Winery

By: Robert Stoddard

Robert Stoddard — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:22:21 +0000

Hi Erich,
I wonder if you can comment on what effect you expect from the sale of BV winery to “Realty Income Corporation”, the REIT. Is this likely to result in a lowering of the quality of the BV product, or a rise in prices, or what?
RKS

By: Erich Russell

Erich Russell — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:15:06 +0000

D.P. I still do every bit of sales and Marketing for Rabbit Ridge in every state in the United States with no help from anyone–except my wife Joanne. I should just say sales as I have no marketing program. I agree that its sad that the entire wine industry is a few–corporations–even sader that these big corporations then sell off Classic Wineries—ie BV. BV Reserve was the one California wine I could purchase in my small town now sold off to a REIT.

By: DP

DP — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:33:38 +0000

As I read further, the Bronco rep seems full of it, further dampening the reputation. Regardless, Rabbit Ridge produces great stuff and I am glad to hear they have maintained their independence.

By: DP

DP — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:29:01 +0000

It’s not owned by Bronco, but I’m gathering from a Bronco rep that they assist in getting the wine to a larger market. Wine conglomerates seem to be, or more aptly already have, overtaking the industry.

By: quakera

quakera — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:40:53 +0000

I notice that the Wiki list stops at T. Given Bronco’s predatory appetite, there are sure to be wines beginning with U through Z. Which makes me think the Wiki list was somehow cut off or incomplete.

You might link to, or quote, the New Yorker article which profiled Bronco’s insidious labor practices, and aggressive tactics in service to a monopolistic business plan. May 18, 2009 “Drink Up” by the excellent reporter Dana Goodyear.