Francis Ford Coppola’s New Winery
There’s a little history in each sip at Virginia Dare Winery.
Long before he became a prolific film director and vintner, Francis Ford Coppola was enamored with the catchy radio ads for Virginia Dare wines, an early American winery dating back to 1835 and named after the first Anglo child born in North America.
“The myth of Virginia Dare always intrigued me, and as a child I remember the Virginia Dare wine because of the pretty blonde girl on the label, and the ‘Say it again, Virginia Dare’ jingle they used to advertise on the radio,” says Coppola on his website.
To keep this memory from fading and as an homage to the origins of American winemaking, Coppola named his recently purchased property in Geyserville Virginia Dare Winery.
Today, a charming remodeled tasting room is home to the rekindled Virginia Dare brand. In addition to the two flagship wines—a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir made with premium fruit from the Russian River Valley–visitors can taste the new series of limited-release wines named for the facts, folklore, and ghost stories surrounding this character in American history.
Along with sipping these flavorful wines, guests can view an impressive collection of memorabilia from America’s early days, including antique bottles, vintage wine equipment, and a deerskin map of the United States that pinpoints the location of Native American tribes. Coppola’s vision of bringing authentic history and charming folklore into his winery makes the visit to his new tasting room not only delicious but enriching, too.
Virginia Dare Winery, 22281 Chianti Rd., Geyserville, (707) 735-3500, virginiadarewinery.com.
