Winemaking is storytelling. A way to honor the past. Celebrate the present. And toast the future.
The Tradition
Francis Ford Coppola has always been a storyteller. While the world knows him for his films, he also tells. While the world knows him for his films, he also tells stories through wine. The Coppola winemaking tradition began in the basements of New York, where his grandfather Agostino made wine during Prohibition. Francis and his wife Eleanor brought that same spirit to Napa Valley in 1975 when they purchased a portion of the historic Inglenook Estate.
The Pursuit and the Innovation
Surrounded by vineyards once prized by Robert Mondavi, Francis began making small lots of wine for friends and family. By 1978, his first vintage of Rubicon was harvested, marking the beginning of a lifelong pursuit to restore Inglenook as one of Napa’s most celebrated estates.
In 2006, Francis expanded his vision with Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County, a place he described as “a wine wonderland.” Today, the estate’s vineyards grow heritage Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Negroamaro, honoring both California and Coppola’s Italian roots.
The Family
Just as his films are tributes to character and family, so too are many of the wines in the Coppola Winery portfolio.For example, Eleanor embodies grace and artistry, a tribute to his late wife and lifelong partner, while Archimedes, bold and powerful, honors the brilliance of Francis’s uncle. Each wine carries a family story, joining a larger collection that invites the world to take a seat at the Coppola table.
The Legacy
Every bottle from Coppola Winery carries a story. A story of generations, of passion and of a family dedicated to craft, creativity and connection. With each pour, the past and present meet, inviting everyone to experience the joy, tradition and celebration that define the Coppola way of life.
Francis Ford Coppola & His Wine Journey
1920s
During Prohibition, Francis’s grandfather Agostino made homemade wine in the basement of his New York home, beginning the family tradition of winemaking.
1939
Francis Ford Coppola was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1975
Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased 1,560 acres of the Inglenook Estate in Napa Valley and began making wine for family and friends.
1990
Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon (1941 vintage) received a perfect 100-point score from Wine Spectator and was recognized as one of the top wines of the century.
2006
The Coppola family purchased the former Chateau Souverain in Sonoma County and opened Francis Ford Coppola Winery, envisioned as a family-friendly destination.
2010s–Present
The winery expanded its portfolio with new wines and collections, including Director’s Cut, Diamond Collection, Eleanor, Archimedes and more. It continued to grow as a destination for wine lovers worldwide, blending innovation with tradition while remaining a family-centered experience.
