You will find that ripple wine is said to be a 'low-end fortified wine' that became very popular in the 1970s. This was mainly due to the fact this wine was a lot cheaper to buy and was normally bought with the intention of getting very drunk, very quickly.
The alcohol content of ripple wine is usually between 13% to 20%. Wine is usually seen as a more sophisticated drink than lager or spirits, like vodka. However, with the introduction of ripple wine the line between them has become a little more blurred - a bit like a person's vision if they've had too much of it.
Many historians also argue that the low-end fortified wine became very sort after in the period of prohibition in the United States during the 1930s. Prohibition was the outlawing of all alcohol and so people had to be very devious to smuggle alcohol into their homes. Illegal bars and pubs were set up. The appeal of the low-end fortified wine was that it was certainly cheaper than many other forms of alcohol and it was also one of the quickest ways of being totally intoxicated.
It is believed ripple wine will always have its place and will stay popular due to its appealing price and quick effects. Many wine snobs will definitely despise it and will not be keen on calling it wine at all. However, it looks like it will be here to stay for many years to come.
E & J Gallo (Earnest & Julio Gallo) Winery produced 'ripple wine'. It was a famous wine in the United States during the 1970s. It carried high alcohol content and was known as the wine of the poor and alcoholics. The wine production has terminated.
Ripple wine was offered on the television in the Sanford and Son series. It was the favourite wine of Fred Sanford. Once it was combined with other drinks and the products obtained were named with a ripple ending. Example, Champagne mixed with ripple gave a product which was referred to as Champipple.
This wine apparently disappeared from the market when its production stopped. Even t he internet does not carry any pictures of this wine. Once a person named Tesko, a Bum Wine Enthusiast had a chance to taste this wine on the television show of Sanford and Son. Thus, today it is very hard to find this Ripple Wine anywhere. If by any chance, this wine stills exists then the producers and the outlet are yet anonymous.
Ripple Wine was one of the most inexpensive wines you could purchase and it was often featured on the top US show 'Sanford and Son'. However it seems that the wine has now completely vanished as it has stopped being produced for quite a while now.
There are some people on auction sites who claim to have original ripple wine, however it remains to be seen how original that wine is! It is thought that ripple went out of business because it simply could not measure up to the competition.
It did have a high alcohol content and it was really cheap so it was popular with certain classes when it was produced. It was produced by E&J Gallo Winery but again, unfortunately it is no longer produced. There is a lot of interest in the wine even today, but obviously there must have been severe financial difficulties when they stopped producing it.
Ripple was produced by ej gallo winery in modesto ca. It was popular in the 1970s I work at gallo and have since 1963 and they havent produced that in about 30 years.
I use to buy Ripple by the case and drink it by the case in the early 70's. Since I was known as "Mr. Ripple" and into custom vehicles and racing I have had several Vans named "Ripped Van Ripple" a T-Roadster called "Ripped T Ripple" and a Hydro Pickle Fork Drag Boat called "Ripped Rat Ripple". I have several Ripple bottles one that is unoped. If you would like to see photos of the bright yellow famous "Ripped Van Ripple" Vans #1 through #6 pull up our website at www.InlandVansBerdoo.com
You can't. The grapes used to make this wine started to be used to make other wines. Since it was Gallo product, the most likely suspect is Red Sangria. Champipple was a mix of Champale and Ripple ala Fred Sandford. Champale is still available in some parts of the country. From some of the answers offered, I can tell that you drank so much, that you fogged your memory.
Wow, I have to admit the word "Ripple" provides me fond memories. My hippie (and broke) mother used to live on Ripple in the 70s. Ripple was a household name (and a necessity). I love to tell Ripple stories to my friends. Unfortunately, my mother is no longer with us (passed away at 59). Hum, wonder why...
Ripple wine was a kind of fortified wine that was famous during the 1970's. It was produced in the United States by the E & J Gallo Winery and was very popular among the social classes. It was relatively cheap in terms of price and thus was seen as being a drink of the alcoholics and the people in the streets. Ripple Wine is said to be a fortified wine because it has additional alcohol (most commonly added is brandy). Initially this additional alcohol was added so that the wine would be sweeter and thus could last for a longer duration. Although this was initially just a method to preserve wines, consumers gradually started developing a preference for them with the extra alcohol and thus they were sold this way. The legal term for Fortified Wines is Dessert Wines.
I still have an empty bottle of Ripple Red; fill it up with black cherry soda whenever I party with friends and tell 'em, "August of 1970 was an EXCELLENT month for wine."
I was nicknamed "Ralph" in college - and this was BEFORE "Happy Days" t.v. Show......
Ripple wine was available in the (shudder) 1950s in the new Hampshire area. As a poor airman, I used to buy ripple to take with me to Hampton Beach. Ahhhh. Fond memories!
