He was a co-founder and CEO of the Bronco Wine Company, the producer of the Charles Shaw brand, better known as "Two-Buck Chuck".
[1][2][3] Fred Franzia was born and raised in Modesto, California, into a family with a long tradition of winemaking.
[4] In 1949 Giuseppe and Teresa's children, including Fred's father Joseph, took over the family business, naming it Franzia Brothers Winery.
[1] Fred Franzia graduated from Santa Clara University in 1965, then went to work in the family winery.
When the winery was sold to Coca-Cola in 1973, Fred joined with his brother Joseph and his cousin John Franzia to start a new venture called Bronco Wine Company.