‘Two-Buck Chuck’ Wine Grower Passes Away
Fred Franzia, one of the largest wine grape growers in the U.S., passed away early Tuesday morning at his Denair, CA, home, surrounded by family.
Franzia was one of the Golden State’s largest growers, farming “in excess of 50 square miles” in seven San Joaquin Valley counties, he told American Fruit Grower in 2010. Bronco Wine Company has five wineries, the largest in Ceres, where Franzia had what he said was the world’s largest tank press, capable of handling five truckloads of grapes at one time.
Franzia defended the San Joaquin Valley fiercely, and was known for his disdain for the notion in consumer media that because the state’s high-dollar grapes grown are grown in Napa and Sonoma counties, the North Coast should be called California’s “Wine Country.” It is the San Joaquin Valley, where more than 2/3 of the state’s wine grapes are grown, that Franzia said was deserving of the title “Wine Country.”
“They don’t produce the grapes,” he said of his counterparts in Napa and Sonoma counties. “We do.”
Franzia’s family sent the following letter to the company’s employees Tuesday morning.
“To Bronco Wine Company Family,
Fred Franzia, Bronco Wine Co. (Photo: David Eddy)
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of our father and founding partner Fred T. Franzia.
Fred died early this morning at his Redwood home in Denair, California, with family by his side. He was 79 years old.
Renata would like to share a quote from her father, “We are fighting a good fight and at the end, we all have an expiration date.” Fred has been private about health issues and we appreciate all your support during this time.
Fred had the vision of creating high quality wines at a value for wine consumers, including Charles Shaw, aka Two Buck Chuck, which has sold over 1 billion bottles and built on a belief that wine should be enjoyed and consumed on every American table. When asked how Bronco Wine Company can sell wine cheaper than a bottle of water, Fred T. Franzia famously retorted, “They’re overcharging for the water – don’t you get it?”
Each and every one of you are part of the Bronco Wine Company family and success. The foundation has been built by our founders and the future has never looked brighter.
Our father’s motto during his health battle and repeated many times over, “Be happy and know The Journey continues…”
Survivors include his five children, Renata, Roma, Joseph, Joey, Carlo and Giovanna; 14 grandchildren (soon to be 15); his brother, Joseph; and his sisters, Joellen and Catherine.
On behalf of the family, thank you for all the prayers and support.
Warmly,
Joey and Renata Franzia
Subscribe Today For
