Posted by March 7, 2007 in Human Rights, Labor
A giant has passed. Over his many decades of work in California’s wine industry, Ernest Gallo was a central figure in some of the most important farm labor organizing in US history. Unfortunately, he was on the wrong side.
Oddly, Gallo died during one of the historical periods in which his wines were not being boycotted by the UFW. So go ahead and drink to his memory with some of his plonk, and enjoy. Because right now it’s Krug/Mondavi that’s the bad stuff:
¡Viva La Causa, Ernesto!
9 Responses to “Mourning a Titan of Industry”
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I have to say that boycotting Gallo wines was about the easiest labor action I ever did.
Ernest Gallo was just there to conceal the reality that all of us are Ernest Gallo.
Luckily, heaven is unionized. Cf. “Casey Jones, Union Scab” by Joe Hil:
Has the UFW actually organized any farmworkers in the last decade?
After reading these two articles and asking around with some labor people I would say no.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ufw8jan08,0,6620187.story?coll=la-home-headlines
http://marccooper.com/ufw-moves-to-sue-its-critics-me/
And why did the Cesar Chavez Award go to someone with a non-union winery, non-union hotel chain, and non-union restaraunt chain?
Yeah, the UFW has some serious problems. Agreed. (Using non-union labor to build the CEsar Chavez center in Keene! Argh.)
I’m still supporting the Krug/Mondavi workers, though.
I have to take exception to criticism of Mondavi wines if you are referring to Robert Mondavi wines. Mondavi has some very excellent, “top-shelf” wines. I was privileged to meet the Mondavi wine historian a few years ago during a vacation at Skylonda Lodge (now defunct) in California. I did her a good turn and Nina was kind enough to present me with a bottle of Mondavi Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon. Mrs DBK and I saved that wine for a few years and last year we pulled the cork. It was very good. I wouldn’t give it 100 out of 100, but it was easily a low to mid-80s. I am sure they have better wines as well called Founder’s Reserve or something like that.
Although Gallo is known for so-called “jug” wines, the rise of wine appreciation in the US caused the company to try and move into the more elite market of quality wines. I don’t know how they are doing there and, frankly, I never drink Gallo wine and haven’t had even a sip in more than twenty years (yes, I was boycotting them too). However, I do take exception to criticism of Mondavi’s product.
I think Mondavi’s wines are fine, DBK. That’s different from supporting their labor practices.
Dude,
You got it wrong w/the UFW. They’re definetely organizing and doing great stuff. The Attorney General said this about the alligations in hte LA Times ‘all the allegations deemed by our office to require investigation were…found to be without merit’ on Dec. 26.
Check it out at the ufw website at: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=2351&page=1&field=&key=&n=440