Monday Open Line


Today marks the birthday in 1910 of one of the major figures of the American wine industry — Julio Gallo. When Prohibition ended, he and his brother Ernest started making wine in humble surroundings — a rented California warehouse with equipment bought on credit. Years of hard work saw their winery became the largest in the U.S., and their creative marketing techniques helped shape the nation’s drinking tastes. When the Gallos began their business in 1934, Americans on average drank only about a quart of wine per year. Today, that figure is 2.8 gallons per capita. The enduring Gallo establishment is joined by over 3,000 other wineries in America, which decant nearly $16.5 billion in yearly shipments. You can find current data on the country’s economy by downloading the ‘America’s Economy’ mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.