Russian River Valley Winegrowers say no to Gallo expansion

12 December, 2008
Russian River Valley grape growers have voted against a request to expand the southern appellation boundary – to include 350 acres of E&J Gallo vineyards in Cotati.
Russian River Valley grape growers have voted against a request to expand the southern appellation boundary – to include 350 acres ofE&J Gallo vineyards in Cotati.According to pressdemocrat.com and Russian River Valley Winegrowers president Hector Bedolla, growers voted in a secret ballot and 71 members opposed, while 18 supported the request. 25 votes were cast as neutral.Gallo asked the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax andTrade Bureau to expand to the southeast to include an additional 14,000 acres. This would also include the 350-acre Two Rock vineyard along Highway 101.The deadline for public comment is 19 December.