Bronco Wine Company, owned by Fred T., Joseph S. and John Franzia Jr. and ranked fourth largest U.S. Wine Company by Wine Business Monthly, recently agreed to provide support for a chair within the Department of Viticulture and Enology in the College  Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.

The 10-year pledge establishes the Bronco Wine Company Chair of Viticulture and provides a faculty position for undergraduate and graduate instruction and research with emphasis in vineyard mechanization and application of precision management practices for  vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley. The Bronco Wine Company Chair of Viticulture will work closely with the wine and grape growers to continue improvement of efficiencies and quality in the vineyards of the San Joaquin Valley.

“Bronco Wine Company’s decision to support a chair in the Department of Viticulture and Enology is another example of their incredible generosity and commitment to making a difference in the future of the wine and grape industry through research and education,” said Fresno State President John Welty. “The Franzia family’s support will help to advance our viticulture program and is greatly appreciated.”

Bronco Wine Company produces wines under the Forest Glen, Coastal Ridge, ForestVille, Crane Lake, Estrella, Charles Shaw, Montpellier, Fox Brook, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, Napa Creek and Napa Ridge brands, among others.  Bronco controls in excess of 30,000 acres of California vineyards, processed approximately 350,000 tons of grapes during the 2005 season and will bottle over 20 million cases of wine. The Franzia family has grown grapes and produced wines in  California for more than 100 years.

Fresno State is the first university in the United States with a license to produce and sell wine commercially from their own winery. Under the direction of the university’s winemaster and winemaker, the students produce numerous varieties of wine from vineyards growing on the campus and other surrounding areas in the San Joaquin Valley. For more information about the Fresno State winery, visit www.fresnostatewinery.com.