Coppola takes on Sonoma
In a talked about move, Foster’s has agreed to sell it’s Geyserville Winery to Francis Ford Coppola’s company, aptly titled Coppola Companies. Foster’s will keep the Chateau Souverign label that is currently being produced there, and Coppola will get the staffed winery with production facility and tasting room / gift shop, and the restaurant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is expected to be completed by February 2006. Coppola sees a lot of potential in Sonoma and intends to move the production of his Diamond series wines to the new facility, as well as offer a series of Sonoma based wine. His current operation, the Niebaum-Coppola winery off of highway 29 in Napa, will be renamed the Rubicon Estate Winery and focus on premium (translation: expensive) wine only.
