E&J Gallo Winery plans to expand its on-trade distribution in the UK this year and its Barefoot brand will be the one to watch, it announced today.

The Californian-based family-owned wine producer restructured its portfolio last year, leaving five core brands for it to focus on in the UK and Europe for 2010: Gallo Family Vineyards, Turning Leaf, Redwood Creek, Carlo Rossi and Barefoot.

“We are looking to expand our route to market and our on-trade presence and we will heavily invest in the on-trade despite difficult market conditions at the moment,” said regional sales director UK and Ireland, Mark Tinsley.

And rosé wine will continue to play a big part in Gallo’s growth plans for the UK, according to Tinsley.

“Rosé continues to drive growth and the top five rosés in the UK are branded. Gallo has two within the top three of these.”

Rosé wine will feature as part of the 2010 strategy for its Gallo Family Vineyard portfolio, with the lanch of the Gallo Rosito – a new cocktail concept using the brand’s White Genache mixed with ginger ale and fresh fruit. A Pinot Noir will also be launched under the GFV label.

Separately, the company highlighted its Barefoot brand as the ‘brand to watch’ for 2010.

“It will be the most exciting brand in UK and Europe this year,” said vice president EMEA George Marsden. “We have very aggressive marketing plans for the brand and we will be investing heavily in it.”

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