About Francis Ford Coppola: Wine, food, and much more in Geyserville
There is something for everyone at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, ten minutes north of Healdsburg on Highway 101. The is one of the more spectacular wineries on the Geyserville Wine Trail. The entrance view is breathtaking and it continues on to a wonderful experience for wine country travelers. The chateau was built in 1973 and was called Chateau Souverain. For years Chateau Souverain had a famous café run by a young chef by the name of Gary Danko. We all know that today Gary Danko has one of the most famous restaurants in San Francisco, Gary Danko’s. Chateau Souverain changed hands many times, and finally in 2005 the Australian company Fosters sold the entire facitility to Francis Ford Coppola. The Chateau Souverain label continues and the wine is mass produced at another facility. The label is still owned by Fosters. Francis Ford Coppola decided to take the winery up several notches. He did a total renovation. He remodeled the restaurant and it is now called Rustic. He kept the existing grounds and added a very large swimming pool, cabanans, and an outdoor terrace area complete with a bar and beverage area. He also added a stage for entertainment. There are four beautiful, professional Bocce courts for all guests to use. We hold our annual WCG Bocce Tournament here at the Coppola Winery. Inside the Chateau is the tasting room, a bar, and a fantastic shop for visitors. In the merchandise shop the main attraction is the Tucker car. If you have seen the movie “Tucker,” this would be an interesting attraction for you to view. We like dining at the Rustic restaurant. When the weather is nice, the patio area of the restaurant provides spectacular views of the Alexander Valley. If you have time, take the tour offered by the winery. As you walk up the stairs to the main portion of the winery, you can find out the options for tasting wine and touring the winery at the desk.