Properly Sauced (Video Edition): Vintage Gallo Wine Commercials

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 5, 2010 5:45PM

Karl, still stoked from searching for vintage liquor commercials as post material, shared this gem with the staff today. (All Glory Be to Klockars). This is actor James Mason, with his rich baritone, English accent and gentlemanly comport, shilling for the mother of all "bum wines," Thunderbird. One can only hope that mason was having fun with the ad copy when he touts the "unusual flavor" of Thunderbird. After the repeal of Prohibition Ernest and Julio Gallo marketed Thunderbird, Night Train, Boone's Farm and other bargain wine brands to depressed inner city communities as part of Ernest Gallo's wish to make his winery the "Campbell Soup company of the wine industry."

We found some other classic Gallo wine commercials for your enjoyment after the break.

Here's a Boone's Farm commercial featuring a motorcycle wheely-popping granny.

Gallo is to "fine wine" as Thunderbird is to "unusual flavor."

If James Mason can polish the turd that is Thunderbird, why not let Peter Ustinov have a crack at Gallo Chenin Blanc?

And a classic one for Ripple, that drink of choice for Fred Sanford.