11/29/08

When in northern California always good to take a day to go to Napa and visit a winery: Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate Winery.

A bit of background: this is one of two wineries Coppola owns. The other one, a bit away, makes all the Coppola wines that retail everywhere. Rubicon Estate is a small, almost boutique, winery that specializes in high-end wines… the 2006 Cabernet Franc, the 2005 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon and 2004 Rubicon are three of the best Reds I have ever had! The estate has a long history, starting in the late 1800’s with a Sea Captain named Gustave Niebaum and includes being broken up as part of the Inglenook/ Heublein conglomerate. All that before Mr. Coppola took some of the money from his “other career” to bind the Estate back together and start producing superb wine again. His personal residence is hidden away in the back of the property, unseen by us interlopers.

The restored Inglenook Chateau (main Estate building)

Stained glass honoring Niebaum and Coppola joining

Back of estate looking towards Coppola residence

Reflecting Pond and Fountain at entrance: sunset

Wine storage area in Chateau

Looking out over winery through second story window