The Acquisition Spearheads The Family Coppola’s Focus on Vineyard-Designate Wines
GEYSERVILLE, CA (April 6, 2017) – Francis Ford Coppola announces a major vineyard acquisition for The Family Coppola with the purchase of a 100-acre parcel in the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak American Viticultural Area (AVA). The purchase includes the 13-acre Silverwood Vineyard, an ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec producing vineyard whose fruit has contributed to Coppola’s highly-acclaimed flagship Archimedes wine for several vintages. Coppola purchased the property from Silverwood Ranch owners Barry and Jackie Hoffner, who’ve been considered some of the pioneers of the distinguished AVA, and have been instrumental growers in the Coppolas’ vast grapegrower portfolio for years.
“We’re proud to acquire the high-elevation Silverwood Vineyard,” says Steve Spadarotto, The Family Coppola’s CEO. “This is our first step in a strategic shift to focus on vineyard acquisitions, selecting parcels and vineyard blocks that reflect the county’s distinctive terroir and heritage.” The AVA’s defining characteristic is its high elevation that varies between 1,600 – 3,000 feet, which exposes vineyards to daylight longer than the fog-covered valleys.
“Since we’ve been sourcing Silverwood Vineyard fruit for Archimedes for years, Francis has decided to rename the lot Archimedes Vineyard, paying homage to his uncle for whom the wine is named,” says Corey Beck, President & Director of Winemaking at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Francis’s “Uncle Archie” was named after the legendary mathematician and inventor known for developing the Archimedes heat ray, a device that takes advantage of the sun’s rays – made famous during the Siege of Syracuse, which is depicted on the wine’s label. Beck added, “We also plan to take full advantage of the sun’s rays by planting about 30 acres as early as next year, all aligned within our sustainability model that we embrace.”
The Hoffners, who continue to operate their 1,100-acre Silverwood Ranch, are pleased to welcome the winery as their new neighbor. “We highly value that they recognize the superior quality of wine grapes grown within Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, and we appreciate their efforts to be good stewards of the land in an area that we cherish,” says Hoffner.
The winery has consistently shown success as a premium wine producer, having received critical acclaim for many of its wines, including Archimedes, which recently received a score of 94+ from critic Robert Parker. This is the family’s third significant investment in Sonoma County since they purchased the former Chateau Souverain property in 2010, revitalizing and renaming it Francis Ford Coppola Winery. In March 2013, they purchased the former Geyser Peak facility and surrounding vineyards, renaming it Virginia Dare Winery.
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 Family Hideaways 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.
