By 1931 Giuseppe, aged sixty, owned several farms and had saved a lot of money. He announced to his family that he was retiring. He apparently felt secure about the status of his wealth despite the continuous downward spiral of the world economy. His sons, already doing most of the work, took over the operation of his farms and vineyards. He had decidedly determined to enjoy the rest of his life. Much of his energy went to growing a very large garden next to his home; it supplied the families of his children as well as his own.

That year Amelia Franzia and Ernest Gallo married. John Franzia took over his father’s role of selling the family’s grapes in Chicago. John traveled with the Gallos to Chicago that year; it was a business honeymoon for Ernest and Amelia. Ernest recalled that he and Amelia faked a fight to get John to leave so they could enjoy more privacy during their honeymoon.