Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/620640
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J a n - F e b 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 1 4 1 ith nearly 200 years of wine- growing history in Califor- nia, there are many examples of brands that have been passed down through generations. But as the state's wine industry keeps growing and consolidation con- tinues, family ownership comes with plenty of challenges, as well as rewards. Chris Indelicato, presi- dent and CEO of Manteca-based Delicato Family Vineyards, knows that first hand. The family's legacy in the New World began in 1924, when Chris' grandfather Gaspare Indelicato, an immigrant from Sicily, planted his first grapes near Manteca in San Joaquin County. Many of the early wines were made under the Sam-Jasper label established by Gaspare and his business partner, Sebastiano Luppino. After selling much of the wine in the bulk mar- ket during the 1960s and early `70s, the company name was changed to Delicato Vineyards in 1974, and its focus shifted to producing higher quality wines. Chris joined the family team in 1994, and during the year to follow, Delicato Family Vineyards (DFV) became the ninth-largest wine pro- ducer in the United States. The growth of the family-owned com- pany has not slowed down since then. In the past decade, produc- tion has increased from 1.5 million cases to nearly 5 million cases today, and the company has experienced double-digit sales growth annu- ally. DFV now farms 4,200 acres of vineyards in Monterey County, Lodi, Sonoma County and the Napa Valley. DFV has strategically positioned itself as a product innovator, over- deliverer in terms of wine quality, and provider of high quality private- label wines. Its portfolio of national branded wines includes, among others: Belle Ambiance, Twisted, Irony, Gnarly Head, Brazin, Black Stallion, Diora, and the wildly suc- cessful 3-liter Bota Box. For two years out of the past four, DFV has earned the presti- gious "Winery of the Year" honor f r o m G o m b e r g , F r e d r i c k s o n & Associates at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. Vineyard & Winery Manage- ment [ V&WM ] What are some of the ways that DFV stays ahead of the trends? C h r i s I n d e l i c a t o [ C I ] A s a family-owned and operated com- pany, our ability to stay nimble and react quickly within a competi- tive environment is an important advantage. Behind the scenes, there are many key players at work keeping Delicato on the pulse of consumer desires and needs. First, our world-class team shares a col- lective passion to improve, evolve and innovate. Second, there is our winning combination of strategic partners, like Nielsen, Market6 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ATP GROUP AT (707) 836-6840 OR ONLINE AT WWW.ATPGROUP.COM atpgroup atpgroup Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. In 1991, American Tartaric Products (ATP) began by selling bags of tartaric acid to the wine industry. Today, we're more than a company selling tartaric products. We offer equipment and mobile services to wineries of all size. We have a skilled parts and service department that's available 24/7. Our enology products and cellar supplies are standards of the industry. And we sell crystal glassware to tasting rooms everywhere. You might wonder why we added all these products and services. For one reason: to help you make what you make better.