Customer Review: Wine is thicker than blood . . .

I first heard about the conflict in the Gallo family through a series of articles published in the Los Angeles Times in the late 80s/early '90s. It was interesting even then, so when I recently ran across this book, it was a given that I'd read it. Hawkes produced a well-researched book: at the end there's almost 50 pages of annotated notes. She interviewed members of the Gallo family, former employees, and delved into public records and many courtroom filings.

The first 3/4 of the book - which fill us in on the Gallo family history and the founding of the winery - is the most interesting. While the business accomplishments of the family are notable, the family dynamics between the brothers are odd, to say the least. Unfortunately, the narrative in the last 1/4 of the book, which details the suits and countersuits, lags considerably. The book slows down and gets entangled in all the legal arguments, which is unfortunate. Nevertheless, the book is still a worthwhile read.

Customer Review: A little dry in the middle

If you're in the business you should read this book.

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