Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Visit to Francis Ford Coppola Winery


On Saturday, we visited the new Francis Ford Coppola Winery, which just opened in July. It was amazing! Coppola had a vision of creating a family resort where people of all ages could enjoy the winery, the restaurant and the pool, as well as games and entertainment. I think he hit the nail on the head with his latest creation.

It isn't entirely finished yet. The pool and cabaƱa area are still under construction, but the restaurant, bar and movie gallery are open.

How cool are these cabines, complete with showers! They plan to open the pool sometime in October. The European style cabines will be available to rent for the day while lounging by the pool. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

The Movie Gallery showcases Coppola's five Oscars! There is even a Palme d'Or. There is so much memorabilia from The Godfather movies too.

Including The Godfather's original desk and chair!

I was particularly fascinated with the original notes, handwritten by Coppola himself of his ideas for the cast of The Godfather.

Remember the movie Tucker with Jeff Bridges? This is the original automobile from Tucker. What a beaut! There were also props and memorabilia on display from Apocalypse Now and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The merchandise for sale was especially nice. Everything from olive oil to dishes. I picked up some placemats (just what I need!) and a mesh cheese dome.

Of course, the resort is entirely surrounded by vineyards. The view from the upstairs gallery is stunning.

We ate lunch at Rustic, the onsite restaurant with our friends Frank and Nancie. Nancie, who is also a fellow blogger (Mosaic Art Now) has an eye for design too, so we were soaking up all the details that went into this fabulous resort. In the restaurant we were amazed that over 4000 bottles of vintage Italian olive oil cans lined the walls.

Even the menu was a work of art. We kept ours as a memento.
It ended up being such a lovely afternoon with our friends. We felt like we were in Disneyland!

"I've often felt that modern life tends to separate all the ages too much. In the old days, the children lived with the parents and grandparents, and the family unit each gave one another something very valuable. So when we began to develop the idea for this winery, we thought it should be like a resort, basically a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy 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

For more information on Francis Ford Coppola Winery, visit their website here.
If you do plan a visit, let me know and I'll meet your for a glass of wine! Afterall, it's just about 5 miles down the road!


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29 comments:

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

We would absolutely love to see this gorgeous place in person.

I love the quote. I think I'll add it to my sidebar and link back to your post.

I read something, recently, that was a tad discouraging. It had something to do with a place being for old people, therefore they were not interested in it. It was actually a great place for any age. I thought when I read it, the writer doesn't realize what he is missing out on, with that kind of attitude.

J and I are the somewhat elderly members of our family. We continue to cherish our older relatives and friends. Older folks have great stories. Younger folks have wonderful stories. It's beautiful when all the ages are blended together.

If we believed in that agism thing we would have passed right by that little silver sporty car, in June.

We are Coppola Wine fans.

Wonderful post, Delores.

Lisa@Pickles and Cheese said...

Thanks for posting this! I would love to go here one day. Beautiful, interesting, great food, and luxury. What's not to love about it?
We are big fans of him movies and his wine. This looks like the perfect getaway destination to me!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Delores, what wonderful place. I would love to visit there some day. You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country with all those wonderful vineyards. To me it is just an entirely different way of living. What is normal everyday life to you would be such a great vacation spot to me. We have a winery (Chateau Elan) close by, but it is not the same as your Ca. wineries.

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Delores,

Very nice blog with a lot of WISDOM in it. It is so true what Francis is saying there about all the ages being too much separated in modern life.
That is something we loved of our time living in Italy, they do adhere to the old fashioned way and live with three generations in one home. Out of necessity as well; homes are so expensive that they share the renovated ages-old dwellings.

Thanks for sharing this!

Sunny greetings from Georgia,

MariettesBacktoBasics

Tamra said...

My husbands cousin was in Apocolypse Now and remained close with Francis Ford Coppola up until he died in 2008. He once said that FFC was one of the nicest and most generous persons he knew.

It looks like he is really putting his heart and soul into this place. I am sure it is wonderful and look forward to seeing pictures of it when it's completed, especially those little cabines.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Thanks for the tour - Looks like a great place to visit.

Katy Noelle said...

This just sounds like a ready made perfect day!

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Delores,
I would love to have dinner at the winery under the stars and take a tour. Gary and I really do need a little get a way. Our lives are so busy and there are never enough hours in a day, since we have a 5.5 hour commute everyday to work.
I love the European style cabines pool side, how cool are they..The winery sounds like a perfect place to stay for a weekend get a way.
My husband loved the Godfather movies, Gary is Italian and got a big kick out of it.
Have a sweet day, looks like fall is in the air. I hope so.. I am so ready for cooler days.
Hugs-Elizabeth

La Dolfina said...

How wonderful Dolores!
I didn't know about this place.
I would love to go and meet you for a glass of wine!
Several years ago, I helped my friend Ron Morgan decorate Skywalker Ranch for the Holidays. It was really cool.

Cindy D. said...

What a fantastic idea, bringing the whole family together to experience the good things in life! And a Wine Wonderland....who could ask for anything more!

Kathysue said...

Delores what a wonderful day trip!! Thank you for the introduction. I love the way you are living your life!!!!Kathysue

NanaDiana said...

What a wonderful, wonderful tour! I love the notes the best!!!

I loved the movie Tucker and have watched it several times. My hubby's father had one of the original cars (I can't remember how many they made but it wasn't many). He won best of show with it a couple of times. I think he sold it to someone in the 1980's. It would be fun to have it in the family today.

Thanks for the great post- Diana

Lori E said...

Oh you know me too well already. Exactly the kind of place I would love to be.
I can hear the chatter and the laughter around the dinner table.
Well of course you have to go back and get more pictures of the finished pool area.
And the wines...how were the wines?

Everything Coastal said...

Will definitely have to add this to our wine country "must see" list for this fall. Thanks for sharing, looks like such a wonderful, fascinating place to visit. We've had so much fun exploring new wineries in our area - aren't we lucky to live here?

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a wonderful place! Next time I head out to wine country, I will let you know! It would be great to meet!
Hugs,
Penny

Southerncook said...

I would love to tour this winery especially since I have enjoyed some of their wines. What a fabulous and most interesting tour and I so apprecaiate that you shared your experience.

Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

xinex said...

What a wonderful place to visit and dine, Delores. Your pictures are superb. I could spend hours there just admiring everything I see.....Christine

Heidi said...

Hi Delores,
How fun, and right down the street from you! Lucky. It looks like a lovely place, and a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with friends. I'll be right up...
xo
Heidi

JEANNE said...

I am so glad I came to visit your post on the winery. It is fabulous. Pat had a good idea to put your Blog on her sidebar and tell us about the opening of this fabulous place. I would love to visit there.
Hugs, Jeanne

Dianne said...

Lovely photos of a lovely place ~ I particularly like those cabins for the swimming pool ~ what a great idea!
~Dianne~

Sonia said...

Oh I enjoyed all your photographs..I so want to visit there on my next trip in January! So beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Miss Bloomers

red ticking said...

i would love to visit sometime... such a great post... xx

Kelley said...

Hi D...very cool stuff and I always enjoy his wine. I am currently taken with the bubbly that he made for Sophia for her wedding,

Thanks for the wonderful tour! And your photos are amazing as usual...kelley

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Delores, You live in such a beautiful part of the country. This looks like such a great place to visit and spend an afternoon. Thanks for sharing.
Take care, Sherry

Fabulously French said...

Love this post Delores, as I visited his winery a few years ago and really enjoyed our visit.
Unfortunately the great man himself was not there but we caught a glimpse of him the next day sitting oustide a cafe in "Frisco".
The restaurant looks fabulous and have put it on my list of things to do when we are next in the Napa.

Leeann x

Mary said...

Will definitely add this to my 'California list' for the next visit to that area. What a beautiful place FFC has envisioned - plus historic movie memories are always interesting when they were such great movies1

My favorite will definitely have to be the 'beach huts' which remind me of my childhood days at the shore in England!

A Toile Tale said...

Wow! You can have Disneyland,,,,I want to go here!

Debbie J said...

I can finally comment.:)
Was excited to see how you liked this place. Very interesting. Enjoyed seeing that casting list. How nice for him to be able to create something like this. We will definitely put this on our day trip list from our place in Sonoma. Thanks for sharing! Debbie

jisabird said...
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