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Gallo purchases ‘white wine only’ Massican

01 September 2023 By James Evison

Gallo’s Luxury Wine Group has purchased Massican to its portfolio of wines in its second acquisition of the week.

The deal will see Gallo partner with the winery’s founder and winemaker, Dan Petroski, who set up the company in 2009 as a ‘white wine only’ winery, focusing on transparency and ethical environmental practices.

According to Gallo’s statement, Petroski recently said he has an “uncommon goal” of ensuring fair pricing and a “more inclusive wine community” within in the luxury wine space through the concept of “scalable authenticity.” He was originally inspired for the brand by Italy’s mineral white wines and wanted to start Napa Valley’s first white wine winery, growing from 400 cases in his first vintage to 7,500 cases in 2022. Petroksi also sits on the Board of Napa Green – a leader in sustainable winegrowing certification – and takes active involvement in the management and promotion of Californian wine.

Petroski will continue to control winemaking, sourcing, and brand vision, Gallo said, with its sales team aiming to expand the distribution footprint of Massican.

The news follows Gallo purchasing Rombauer Vineyards only a few days ago, with the deal including three winery and production facilities, two tasting rooms, along with more than 700 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards in Carneros, Atlas Peak, St. Helena, Calistoga, Sonoma Valley, and the Sierra Foothills.

Speaking about the Massican deal, brand manager John Irwin said: “Dan makes great wine, that’s where it has to start, but credibility matters, stewardship matters, and all wine drinkers, from the collector to the novice, want an authentic experience.

“These are not typical wines, especially for California; they’re low in alcohol, high in acid, salty, fresh. I think that’s because they’re an extension of Dan…there’s a humanity and vision to his wines.”

“As a solopreneur, I have taken Massican as far as I could go alone,” says Dan Petroski. “To achieve my vision of being one of the most important white wines made in California, I needed the support of the best professionals in this industry – I found that in Gallo. I can’t wait to see what we can do.”

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