[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF ERNEST GALLO

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                               speech of

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2007

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, this week the House voted to honor Mr. Ernest 
Gallo, a pioneer and innovator in winemaking and exceptional example of 
the American entrepreneurial spirit. Born on March 18, 1909 near 
Modesto, California, Ernest Gallo grew up working with his brother, 
Julio, in a vineyard owned by their immigrant father. With less than 
$6,000 and a pamphlet from the Modesto Public Library, the brothers 
founded E & J Gallo Winery in 1933. From these humble beginnings, 
Ernest and his brother built a wine empire, bringing a love of wine to 
the U.S. customer and permanently establishing California as the 
epicenter of America's wine industry. Today, E & J Gallo Winery 
produces approximately 900 million bottles annually, selling them under 
40 different labels and distributing to 90 different countries. 
Throughout the years, Gallo received honors for his achievements in 
winemaking by a host of organizations ranging from the American Society 
of Enologists Merit Award for outstanding leadership in the wine 
industry to the Gold Vine Award from the Brotherhood of the Knights of 
the Vine wine fraternity and the 1983 Distinguished Service Award from 
The Wine Spectator. In recent years, Gallo Winery has continued this 
trend of excellence, being named Winery of the Year in 1996 and 1998 by 
the San Francisco International Wine Competition and being named ``Wine 
of the Century'' at the Los Angeles County Fair wine competition. These 
honors are owed in no small part to the passion and innovation of 
Ernest Gallo. In his passing, we have lost an American legend and a 
dear friend.

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