Gaspare Indelicato departed his home land of Sicily in Italy as a 17 year-old.

His dream was to pursue opportunity in America.

And pursue opportunity, he did.

He first worked in Washington state after arriving in the United States via Ellis Island.

Indelicato then moved to Lodi to work.

After meeting his bride Caterina and marrying in 1921, they started a family.

The young family man decided he wanted more for the three sons he’d eventually have — Anthony, Frank, and Vince.

So Gaspare — along with his brother-in-law Sebastiano Luppino — in 1924 bought 60 acres in Manteca that included a run-down dairy. Gaspare was 30 years old at the time.

The acreage was on the southwest corner of where French Camp Road crossed the recently christened Highway 99.

The brothers-in-law eventually converted the dairy into a vineyard.

They planted three small plots of Carignane, Mission, and Zinfandel vines.

The sold and shopped grapes to winemakers on the East Coast during the Prohibition Era.

In 1935, the end of Prohibition prompted Indelicato to purchase used wine making equipment.

On May 25, 1935, the brothers-in-law officially opened their winery.

They named their joint venture Sam Jasper winery, after their Americanized their first names.

That first vintage of 3,411 gallons was made in a converted hay barn using a small hand crusher and a hand-operated winepress.
The initial offering of wine sold for 50 cents a gallon.

The Indelicato and Luppino families, living in one house on the property, did everything themselves — from growing the grapes to making the wine and selling it.

After school, the Indelicato and Luppino children helped weed Gaspare’s garden that served as the source of vegetables for the family.
They also learned to tend the vineyards.

Every weekend, they washed the returnable wine bottles and jugs in large wooden tub using hot water.

By 1962 at the time of his death at age 68, Gaspare who is buried in Park View Cemetery just north of the winery he started, had parlayed his dream into one of California’s largest wineries.

The winery is now the fifth largest in America based on volume with more than 16 million cases per year.

They are also the third largest exporter of branded wine from the United States.

The winery today is run by Gaspare’s grandchildren as his sons have all passed away. A fourth generation is also involved in various aspects of the winery business.

Today, brothers Chris Indelicato, Chief Executive Officer and Jay Indelicato, Chief Operating Officer, are at the helm, with cousins and extended family members holding positions throughout the business.

“It is a great milestone for the entire family that the company can celebrate its 100th anniversary,” noted Chris Indelicato. “Continuing a business through 100 years is a privilege that only few will experience, and we are very proud that the company my grandfather founded in the early part of the 20th century is still going strong.”

“This achievement is far from coincidental. During the company’s 100-year lifetime, different generations of employees have continually reinvented the business and its products in order to maintain our market leading position, while always respecting the trade and our roots. So far, we have been successful in doing so, and that is a big acknowledgement to those past and present, who have invested their energy and passion in our company through the years.”

A company press release noted the 100th year milestone  is not just a testament to Delicato's storied past but also a “beacon illuminating their path forward.”

Driven by a blend of tradition and innovation, Delicato maintains a distinguished position in the wine industry.

This is particularly evident with the success of Bota Box, which leads the U.S. market in both sales and growth within the premium 3-liter box wine category. Notably, Bota Box has achieved a significant milestone, selling more than 10 million cases, making it the U.S.'s 5th largest brand in dollar sales.

The acquisition of Black Stallion in 2010, which recently earned the title of American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, along with the iconic Francis Ford Coppola Winery brand in 2021, has solidified their reputation in the industry.

Delicato’s strategic vineyard acquisitions in Monterey, Lodi, Napa, and Sonoma have further strengthened its position. These areas, known for their premium winegrowing conditions, contribute significantly to the company's diverse and high-quality wine portfolio. Currently, Delicato is ranked as the sixth-largest wine supplier in terms of overall dollar sales, and the fifth largest in terms of volume in the United States, continues to be a driving force behind some of the fastest growing wine brands in the nation.

Commemorating its centennial throughout 2024, Delicato has developed a series of videos to share the celebration with its employees, growers, customers, and partners. A special website, www.delicato.com/100years, invites everyone to explore the company's 100-year evolution

This story also contains wording from a Delicato Family Wines press release.