NEWS : New Leaf

A new wine brand now appearing on store shelves, Turning Leaf, is a creation of the Gallo organization. Analysts say it is targeted at Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve line of wines in terms of price and style.

I tried the Turning Leaf Chardonnay and Cabernet the other day, and although they are good wines, I still prefer the Kendall-Jackson. But Kendall-Jackson wines sell for about $8 to $9, and last week one Chicago retailer, Sam’s, advertised the Turning Leaf wines for $4.99.

“Gallo is doing what it does best,” says one San Francisco wine marketing executive. “[Ernest Gallo] introduces a product at near his cost to grab market share. I’ll wait until 1997 to see whether this plays out.”