Born in the small farming town of El Llano in Michoacán, Mexico, Ignacio Gallegos’ family raised him with an intimate understanding of agriculture and a love for fresh and locally-produced foods. When he immigrated to the United States in the 1950s under the government Bracero guest worker program, the Gallegos family was among the first Mexican farming families to settle in the town of St. Helena. Ignacio Sr. found work for the next 30 years in the vineyards of Beringer Brothers Winery.
As a child Ignacio, Jr spent his free time alongside his father learning the art of grape growing and vinification. At 16 he began working after school and on weekends under legendary Edgar Beard of Beard Ranches. Ignacio Jr. has been working full time in the vineyards of Napa Valley since 1976. He went on to become vineyard foreman of Rutherford’s 100-acre J.J. Cohn Ranch, an estate now owned by Francis Ford Coppola and Scarecrow. It was here where Ignacio raised and instilled a passion for agriculture in his own sons, Ignacio III and Eric. He taught them the craft of grape growing and winemaking.
Ignacio Jr continued his dream to create his own vineyard management company for his family. In 2008 Gallegos Vineyards was created. His son Eric received a bachelor of science degree in Viticulture from California State University-Fresno. His son Ignacio III studied viticulture at Napa Valley Junior College. Gallegos Vineyards currently manages over 300 acres in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Prestigious clients include Somerston, Peacock Family Vineyard, Kelleher Family Vineyard, Rancho de Gallegos, Muhlner Vineyard, Don Thomas Vineyard, Beard Ranches and Anderson Ranch.
Ignacio, Ignacio III, and Eric have been making wine at home for many years. Ignacio’s love for wine and producing quality grapes has inspired the family to open up a new chapter in the family business. The grapes for the wines are sourced directly from Gallegos vineyard management clients, from some of the most renowned vineyard sites, allowing total control of the wine making process from pruning the vines in winter up until the wine is in bottle. The fruit is hand selected by the family at harvest. We hope you enjoy our limited production wines from three generations of family farming brought to you in a bottle.
Cellar Angels is honored to feature the Gallegos Wines’ 2012 Chardonnay, Charmer Vineyard, Napa Valley on our website beginning Monday, September 15th. This is a stunning bottle for Thanksgiving, and proceeds from every bottle go towards supporting your favorite cause. www.cellarangels.com.
