Ripple (wine)

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Ripple was an inexpensive fortified wine produced by E & J Gallo Winery^[1] that was popular among certain social classes in the United States, particularly in the 1970s. Due to its high alcohol content and low price, it had a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute. It was popular among young drinkers, both underage and college students. It is no longer produced.

[edit] Cultural references

Ripple was often referred to on the TV series Sanford & Son as it was Fred Sanford's alcoholic beverage of choice. On the show, it was mixed with various other drinks, with the end products having a name rhyming with Ripple (for example, Champagne and Ripple was referred to as "Champipple").

Lieutenant Dan's character in the movie Forrest Gump—after he has lost his legs and is drinking heavily—asks Forrest at one point to go and purchase a bottle of Ripple for him.

In the movie Creepshow, the doomed, dim hick Jordy Verrill is shown drinking a bottle Ripple.

In the Pharcyde song, "Oh Shit", Imani is offered a cup of Ripple by his friend's mother.

Cheech and Chong's comedy skit, "Trippin' in Court", features a man on trial for drug possession who "had in his possession at the time of his arrest 24 pounds of marijuana…5,000 LSD capsules…and a gallon of Ripple wine."

Gordon Lightfoot's idyll "Spanish Moss" from the album Summertime Dream contains a reference to "Georgia pine and Ripple wine, memories of Savannah summertime."

Hoyt Axton referred to the beverage in "Lightning Bar Blues":

I don't need no diamond ring

I don't need no Cadillac car

Just want to drink my Ripple wine

Down in the Lightnin' Bar

Grateful Dead: In addition to titling a song "Ripple" (unrelated to the beverage), the 1970 Sunflower Records album "Vintage Dead" (unauthorized by the band) featured a partially obscured bottle of Ripple on the cover.