Bronco Wine Company Establishes Chair In Fresno State Viticulture Program

Bronco Wine Company, owned by Fred T., Joseph S. and John Franzia Jr. and ranked the 4th largest "U.S. Wine Company" by Wine Business Monthly, recently agreed to provide support for a chair within the Department of Viticulture and Enology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at California State University, Fresno.

The 10-year pledge establishes the Bronco Wine Company Chair of Viticulture and provides a faculty position for undergraduate and graduate instruction and research with emphasis in vineyard mechanization and application of precision management practices for vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley. The Bronco Wine Company Chair of Viticulture will work closely with the wine and grape growers to continue improvement of efficiencies and quality in the vineyards of the San Joaquin Valley.

"Bronco Wine Company's decision to support a chair in the Department of Viticulture and Enology is another example of their incredible generosity and commitment to making a difference in the future of the wine and grape industry through research and education," said Fresno State President John D. Welty. "The Franzia family's support will help to advance our viticulture program and is greatly appreciated."

Bronco Wine Company produces wines under the Forest Glen, Coastal Ridge, ForestVille, Crane Lake, Estrella, Charles Shaw, Montpellier, Fox Brook, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, Napa Creek and Napa Ridge brands, among others. Bronco controls in excess of 30,000 acres of California vineyards, processed approximately 350,000 tons of grapes during the 2005 season and will bottle more than 20 million cases of wine. The Franzia family has grown grapes and produced wines in California for more than 100 years.

Fresno State is the first university in the United States with a license to produce and sell wine commercially from its own winery. Under the direction of the university's winemaster and winemaker, the students produce numerous varieties of wine from vineyards growing on the campus and other surrounding areas in the San Joaquin Valley.

Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster, (559) 278-5292 or (559) 593-1815