As the nation continues to gather around the table in celebration of good food and wine, the Gallo Family is proud to commence the third year of the Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Awards. Each year the program honors culinary craftsmanship among the country’s top artisanal food producers, recognizing excellence across a variety of food categories. The program also includes the signature “All Artisanal Award” to honor the family-owned business that best embodies exceptional artisanal food production and stands as a role model and inspiration for other food industry professionals.

After a three month-long national call-for-entries and a detailed judging process of close to 300 foods, Gallo Family Vineyards winemaker, Gina Gallo, recently announced this year’s line-up of winners at a celebratory luncheon in New York City.  The event, hosted at acclaimed Park Avenue Spring Restaurant, was a who’s who of the New York culinary scene where each guest dined on Chef Craig Koketsu’s multi- course menu showcasing each of our 2008 winner’s products paired up perfectly with various Gallo Family Vineyards wines.  Click here for a behind the scenes look at this year’s celebratory event.

Each of the seven 2008 grand prize Gold Medal Awards winners received an all expense paid trip to New York City to be honored at a celebratory lunch in their honor, a $5,000 business development grant, national advertisement exposure in two leading culinary and trade magazines, an annual membership to the Chefs Collaborative (a not-for-profit organization fostering sustainable agriculture) and Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Awards “seal of excellence” stickers to display on their products as a symbol of quality. 

“As my family celebrates its 75th anniversary of winemaking this year, it is especially momentous to honor this hard-working group of people who started out much like my grandfather Julio and great-uncle Ernest, and we are thrilled to welcome them into our extended family of Gold Medal winners,”  says third-generation Gallo Family Vineyards winemaker, Gina Gallo

The most prestigious prize, the signature “All Artisanal Award,” was bestowed on this year’s dairy category winners, Mariann Janosko and Jerry Onken of Lake Erie Creamery, due to their entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and ongoing dedication to provide their community with an exceptional hand-crafted product everyone can enjoy.   They will receive a trip to Aspen, CO in June 2008 to attend The Food & Wine Classic, showcasing their winning product alongside the Gallo family.

Meet the 2008 Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Award Winners

All food producers interested in entering this program are encouraged to view the Program Rules and  Entry Form to become familiar with the entry process.  More up to date information, program rules and entry forms for The 2009 Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Awards will be available in fall 2008.

Thank you,

The Gallo family