Franzia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Franzia
IndustryWine
Founded1906
FounderTeresa Franzia
OwnerThe Wine Group
ParentThe Wine Group
Websitefranzia.com

Franzia is a brand of wine produced by The Wine Group, known for its box wines sold in 3 and 5-liter cartons.[1] Franzia wines, throughout their history, were known as affordable table wines, popular in the 1960s and 1970s as "jug wine", and now as "box wine". The Wine Group is the third largest wine company in the world, behind Constellation Brands and the E&J Gallo Winery. The Franzia brand today has no business relationship with Fred Franzia of the Bronco Wine Company, known for its low-cost Charles Shaw wines. The Franzia family sold the brand to Coca-Cola in 1973 when Fred Franzia was in his early adult years; and it was sold to The Wine Group in 1981.

Teresa Franzia (born Teresa Carrara, 1879–1949) founded the Franzia Wine Company in 1906. Teresa's daughter, Amelia Franzia Gallo, was the wife of winemaker Ernest Gallo. Teresa loaned Ernest the money to start his company.[citation needed]

History[]

The brand originated as an eponyme from the Franzia family, who began growing grapes in California in 1892 and making wine in 1933 after the repeal of prohibition,[2][3] later operating as the Franzia Brother's Winery, a Central Valley winery in Ripon, California [4] In 1973, Coca-Cola agreed to acquire the Franzia Brother Winery for stock valued at about 49.3 million.[5] As part of the acquisition, the Franzias were prohibited from using their name in future winemaking businesses - The Franzia Brand, prominent on the boxed wines, is today unconnected to the family. [6] In 1981, the Coca-Cola Company agreed to sell the wine business of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York (which included the Franzia Brothers Winery alongside the Mogen David Wine Corporation and Tribuno Wines Inc.), in a management buy-out involving the top-level managers of the bottler's wine business and the First Boston Corporation. [7]

Vineyard[]

Franzia is produced by The Wine Group, which is based at Concannon Vineyard in San Francisco's East Bay, but operates 13 wineries in California, New York and Australia. [8]

Wines[]

Red Wine White Blush
Bold and Jammy Cab Rich & Buttery Pink Moscato
Burgundy Chardonnay Rosé
Cabernet Sauvignon Chablis Sunset Blush
Chianti Chardonnay White Merlot
Chillable Red Crisp White White Zinfandel
Dark Red Blend Moscato
Fruity Red Sangria Pinot Grigio/Colombard
Merlot Refreshing White
Pinot Noir/Carmenere Sauvignon Blanc

In popular culture[]

Oregon State University students organize the tour de franzia, a costumed bike parade inspired by the brand's namesake. The parade attracts students, local residents, and out-of-towners and occurs every term. [9] [10] Similarly, students at Wesleyan University organize an unofficial campus scavenger hunt involving boxed wine. [11] [12]

References[]

  1. ^ Cuff, Denis (26 January 2017). "Livermore's Concannon Winery to pay water pollution fine". East Bay Times. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. ^ "In Napa Valley, Winemaker's Brands Divide an Industry". Wall Street Journal. 22 February 2005.
  3. ^ "The History of Franzia".
  4. ^ "Drink up". 11 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Coca‐Cola Resets a Deal to Acquire Franzia Winery". The New York Times. 13 September 1973.
  6. ^ "In Napa Valley, Winemaker's Brands Divide an Industry". Wall Street Journal. 22 February 2005.
  7. ^ "Coca-Cola to Sell 3 Wine Concerns". The New York Times. 16 July 1981.
  8. ^ "The Wine Group CEO talks 'premiumization' and millennials". 17 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Tour de Franzia parades with little interference".
  10. ^ "Franzia tourers plan to file for permit, pedal on".
  11. ^ "Wesleyan's Tour de Franzia Meltdown Reaches Ridiculous New Levels".
  12. ^ "Jezebel Terms Wesleyan Admin's Tour de Franzia Tactics 'Ridiculous'". 6 May 2013.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""