There have always been two wine industries in America. The smaller is the touristy elite high priced wines from California’s top regions. The larger is the less expensive wines that are on every major chain’s shelves. The smaller consists of thousands of small brands. The larger is controlled by ten major companies marketing hundreds of brands you recognize. It is the less expensive wines that are growing now. The top ten companies in the wine business are doing better than the elite little guys in this current wine market. Four of those larger companies are really doing well. What is fascinating is their histories. Only three generations ago the founders of these companies were poor legal immigrants from Italy who came over on ships speaking minimal English. They had no money, only dreams of a better life. They seemed to be very simple uneducated men. They did not move to major cities with grand plans. They were farmers who chose little towns in California like Modesto, Lodi, Manteca. Now their grandchildren are running the top companies in the wine business! They have outlasted giant corporations like Coke, Nestle, Hueblein, and Allied Domecq. They are an amazing story. It really is incredible and beautiful how far they have come. Congratulations Jay, Chris, Fred, your fathers, and their fathers, and Merry Christmas to those who dream and fulfill their dreams.