Limited Edition Director’s Cut “Cinema Premiere 89th Edition” Features Red Wine Blend & Russian River Valley Chardonnay
GEYSERVILLE, Calif. (February 1, 2017) – Today Francis Ford Coppola Winery unveiled two limited edition wines featuring commemorative labels that will be poured exclusively at this year’s 89th annual Academy Awards® and Governors Ball. An extension of the winery’s prestigious Director’s Cut collection, the two “Cinema Premiere 89th Edition” wines include a robust 2013 red wine blend as well as an exceptional 2015 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
As a fourteen-time nominee and six-time Oscar® winner, including the Irving G. Thalberg Award, filmmaker and vintner Francis Ford Coppola has a decades-long relationship with the Academy. As an expression of gratitude, Coppola created these two special wines for this year’s ceremony and official post-show celebration, the Governors Ball.
“What seems logical to me is that if anyone’s going to provide wine to the Academy, it ought to be the Coppola family,” says Francis Ford Coppola. “We were one of the earliest of the film people to get into the wine business; we have the most established, broad-based wine business of any film celebrity and, as a family, I imagine we have won as many nominations and wins as any.”
He added, “Those are only statistics-by-memory, but the most important fact is that in our hearts we love the motion picture tradition as exemplified by the Academy as well as the winemaking tradition. I understand,” he continued, “that the Antinori family has said that they have been making wine for 500 years—but the Coppola family has been drinking wine for 700 years and our granddaughter Gia Coppola represents five generations in the film industry.”
In the film business, the Director’s Cut term emerged as a means for filmmakers to present their own creative, almost final vision of a story. At the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Director’s Cut wines pay homage to the history of California film-making and winemaking, two great art forms that require artistic vision and quality source materials – whether it’s the land or the script.
“In honor of this ceremony celebrating the year’s best in film, an industry integral to the identity of California, we hand-crafted two wines we felt were symbolic of the finest wines that California – and specifically Coppola – have to offer,” says Corey Beck, Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s President and Director of Winemaking. Adding, “We chose Russian River Valley fruit that showcases one of the best growing regions in the world, and Cabernet and Zinfandel from renowned Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley – home of Francis Ford Coppola Winery.”
Director’s Cut wines are creative expressions of the distinct sub-appellations of Sonoma County, showcasing winemaker Corey Beck’s forte for highlighting the bold and vivid characteristics of Sonoma’s distinct growing regions. These wines are richly layered, full-bodied and balanced. In addition to the two special red and white bottlings of the Director’s Cut Cinema Premiere 89th Edition, Francis Ford Coppola Winery will also be pouring Director’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc, Director’s Cut Chardonnay, Director’s Cut Pinot Noir and the highly-acclaimed 2013 Archimedes at the Oscars® ceremony and Governors Ball. All totaled, Francis Ford Coppola Winery is expected to serve over 2,112 bottles of wine, which comes out to more than 9,500 glasses!
The two Director’s Cut Cinema Premiere 89th Edition wines are:
2013 Director’s Cut Cinema Premiere 89th Edition Red Wine
A robust blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah sourced from the most prestigious vineyards in Sonoma’s Alexander and Dry Creek valleys. Dramatic in character, this lush, full-bodied red offers layers of rich, expressive fruit and aromatic notes of seasoned wood, exotic spices, and subtle earth tones too numerous to count. The tremendous complexity inherent in these fruit selections is derived from a unique terroir that’s been influenced for centuries by the nearby mountains and ocean. Appellation: Sonoma County. Blend: 52% Zinfandel, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah, 4% Merlot. Alcohol: 14.4%.
2015 Director’s Cut Cinema Premiere 89th Edition Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Blended from several vineyard lots, each contributing traits that reflect its place of origin. Fruit from warmer reaches of the valley add tropical tones, while grapes residing in the cooler areas provide citrus notes, structure, and intensity on the palate. When blended together, this diversity creates a Chardonnay that is expressive and complex. Appellation: Russian River Valley. Blend: 100% Chardonnay. Alcohol: 13.7
In addition to pouring at the 2017-2019 Academy Awards and Governors Ball, Francis Ford Coppola Winery was also the exclusive wine sponsor of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Film buffs not attending the 89th annual Academy Awards and Governors Ball, may join in the virtual fun by following @CoppolaWine on the winery’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels, and by following the hashtag #CoppolaWine.
About The Family Coppola
The Family Coppola encompasses all of the things Francis loves most – cinema, wine, food, resorts, and adventure – and embraces quality, authenticity and pleasure as a backbone to each of these vibrant business endeavors. Anchored in Sonoma County, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, known for the superior level of quality and integrity, is, as Francis puts it, “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.” Coppola’s second foray into Sonoma County came in 2015 with the launch of Virginia Dare Winery, American wines since 1835, ushering in a new era of elevated quality and vineyard-specific wines. The Coppola Resorts are a collection of unique properties where adventure meets serenity. Drawing upon inspiration from his film career and travels around the globe to the far reaching corners of the world, Francis created each resort embracing its off-the-beaten-track location, making it an ideal destination for exploring the natural wonders of the area while relaxing in tranquil surroundings. Additionally, The Family Coppola operates a venerable film production company, American Zoetrope; the award-winning all-literary magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story; Cafe Zoetrope in San Francisco’s iconic Sentinel Building in North Beach; and Mammarella Foods, an authentic line of premium organic pastas and sauces. www.TheFamilyCoppola.com. Connect with us on social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @CoppolaWine | www.facebook.com/coppolawine
About the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 7,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is under construction in Los Angeles. Follow the Academy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
