E. & J. Gallo Winery is one of the largest winemaking operations in the world, distributing their wines to more than 90 countries and employing more than 4,600 people. Since its foundation in 1933, Gallo has built an international reputation in wine grape growing and winemaking, offering a diverse selection of products from fine table and sparkling wines to distilled, wine-based spirits and beverage wines. Gallo’s Fresno facility distills the E. & J.^® VS Brandy and E. & J.^® VSOP Brandy, which amounts to 50% of their total production, as well as makes grape juice concentrate and wine, which accounts for the other 50%. Out of Gallo’s numerous wineries throughout California, the Fresno location is the only one that produces brandy and juice concentrate. 

Gallo’s winemaking operations involve energy-intensive equipment, such as chillers and compressors, leading them to pursue an energy management system that would allow them to reduce their electricity bill as well as conserve power . Gallo was particularly interested in conserving power to help prevent rotating outages from occurring in the region, so they wanted to participate in demand reduction during peak events. Gallo processes perishable products, so to maintain product integrity many of their loads cannot be arbitrarily shut down. Powerit Solutions conducted an onsite energy assessment and identified a number of plant loads that could be carefully curtailed during peak periods of demand without adversely affecting the condition of their wines, production rates, or building comfort.