Francis Ford Coppola Winery
300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441
Website: https://www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com/
It came as a surprise to me when I first learned that Francis Ford Coppola owned a winery in Sonoma. I knew he owned the Ingelnook Estate (formerly Niebaum Coppola or Rubicon) because I had visited it on my first trip to Napa Valley. It is an interesting winery but draws in a huge amount of tourists. I originally didn’t have a strong desire to see Coppola’s winery in Sonoma because I expected it to focus more on his movie career than on producing wine. Yet we stopped in because there is a restaurant on site and we needed a bite to eat while visiting some of the other wineries in the area. Besides, my husband is a movie buff. My expectation was accurate but I was pleasantly surprised with all that the winery has to offer.
This place is more than just a winery. It is a resort with a huge outdoor pool and cafe, a movie gallery, a restaurant, a winery and a tasting room. Their website describes this place as a “wine wonderland” for both adults and children. Coppola obviously spared no expense to create this winery. A grand staircase leads up to the entrance that was modeled after the Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inside, there is a two floor Movie Gallery that showcases Coppola’s movie memorabilia, including his Academy Awards, the desk from The Godfather movies, and other props from his many films. There is a tasting bar on both floors. We found the tasting bar on the top floor to be much less busy. The winery has a wide selection of wines, some of which may be found in a local grocery store or wine outlet. My favorites were the Francis Coppola Reserve wines that are sold exclusively through the winery.
Rustic restaurant is situated on the first floor. If nothing else, it is worth stopping in to eat at the restaurant. However, beware that the restaurant gets very busy during peak lunch and dinner hours. The first time I visited the winery, my husband and I had no problem getting in to eat at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. The second time I visited with my friend Denise around 1 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, there was at least a 45 minute wait to get a seat and people were lined up outside the entrance. There is an outdoor seating area that is gorgeous on a nice day looking out on the vineyard. The menu includes thin crust pizzas, pastas, and a variety of other selections. The food and service were excellent! I would definitely return to the restaurant and recommend it to others during their less busy time.
This place really does try to offer something for everyone. Visitors can stop in for a quick tasting or a bite to eat, or they can stay longer and take advantage of all that the resort has to offer. The Pavilion near the pool hosts all kinds of daytime and nighttime entertainment. There is also a selection of wine tours available by reservation. This winery may be a little over the top for those solely interested in wine, but it is a fun place for people looking for a more unique experience.