L to R: Lise Asimont, Tondi Bolkan, François Cordesser, Evan Schiff, Sandy Walheim
With the holiday gift-giving season upon us, the number of wines to choose from can be overwhelming. So we asked the winemaking team at Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Virginia Dare Winery for their expert tips on the best wine gifts for your friends and family this year. Check out their suggestions below!
- The perfect Coppola wine to give to a holiday party host…
“Director’s Cut anything because the wrap-around label looks like ribbon wrapped around a gift.” – Tondi Bolkan, Associate Winemaker
“For a party, I bring the Diamond Collection Claret because it pleases so many people. Its complexity offers flavors that wine lovers appreciate.” – Evan Schiff, Associate Winemaker
- The perfect Coppola wine for family…
“My sister makes a prime rib for Christmas day and that’s always a place for Archimedes to shine.” – Sandy Walheim, Winemaker
“Eleanor! My entire family loves this wine and it’s a treasured gift. We love Eleanor’s personal artwork on the bottle and the wine is spectacular.” – Lise Asimont, Director of Grower Relations
- The perfect Coppola wine for friends…
“This really depends on the friend. If they are a white wine drinker, usually White Doe or Two Arrowheads because they are such beautiful white blends with lots of floral and citrus. If they are a red wine drinker, I’m favoring either Lost Colony or Pitagora right now because they are such interesting red blends.” – Lise
“Vendetta is always a crowd pleaser and strikes up a fun conversation.” Tondi
- The perfect Coppola wine for New Year’s Eve…
“Sofia Blanc de Blancs is the first choice for that very special evening.” – François Cordesse, Associate Winemaker
“Sofia Blanc de Blancs to start, followed by a glass of Director’s Cut Chardonnay and ending with a glass of FC Reserve Pinot Noir. This means three glasses of wine for me, which usually takes me the entire evening to party through!” – Lise
- Coppola Winemaker holiday wine traditions…
“We enjoy a glass of Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc as an aperitif before diner, or when we welcome family and friends.” – François
“You bet! We always start off a holiday dinner with a toast of Sofia Blanc de Blancs and have one of our gorgeous Pinot Noir wines, sometimes two! My current personal favorite is our Director’s Pinot Noir.” – Lise
About Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Francis puts it best, saying the winery is “a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life: food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life.” Francis Ford Coppola Winery is located at 300 Via Archimedes in Geyserville, California, accessed from US HWY 101 and the Independence Lane exit. Among the many unique attractions at the property, Francis Ford Coppola Winery features a wine tasting bar, two restaurants, swimming pools, a movie gallery, a performing arts pavilion and a park area with game tables and bocce courts. Francis Ford Coppola Winery opens at 11 a.m. daily. For more information, call (707) 857-1400 or visit www.FrancisFordCoppolaWinery.com.
