Oct. 28, 1919: Congress enacts the Volstead Act, banning the sale of alcoholic beverages beginning Jan. 17, 1920. The Prohibition years decimate the California wine industry.

Feb. 20, 1933: Congress passes a motion to submit the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, to end Prohibition to the states for ratification.

Summer 1933: Ernest and Julio Gallo, ages 24 and 23, respectively, borrow capital from Ernest's mother-in-law, Teresa Franzia, and rent a warehouse at 11th and D streets in Modesto to start a winery.

September 1933: The Gallo brothers' winery permit is approved, and the first batch of wine is made.

Dec. 5, 1933: The states formally ratify the amendment to end prohibition.

1935: The brothers buy 10 acres of land on Dry Creek for a permanent winery.

1939-40: The winery acquires bottling plants and begins marketing wine under its own name. Ernest Gallo begins to develop store marketing strategies and a sales force.

1940s: Gallo acquires thousands of acres of vineyards near Livingston.

1946: The Gallo trademark is registered in most states, and state distributors are lined up.

1950s: Gallo runs its first television advertising.

1954: The winery purchases the bankrupt Cribari Winery in Fresno.

1957: Thunderbird is introduced: What's the word - Thunderbird."

Late 1950s: Gallo Glass plant is built.

1960: Ripple, a sweet, carbonated wine, is introduced.

1960: Gallo becomes the biggest-selling wine in the United States for the first time, a position it cemented by 1966.

1961: Boone's Farm apple wine is introduced.

1967: Andre Cold Duck is introduced.

1967: Gallo administration building is completed.

1970: Winemaking and distilling operations are moved to Livingston.

November 1972: Ernest and Julio appear on the cover of Time magazine with an article titled "American Wine Comes of Age."

1972: Carlo Rossi brand is taken national.

June 1973: The United Farm Workers strike Gallo, and launch a Gallo boycott in October. The UFW loses a representation battle to the Teamsters at Gallo.

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