Famed director Francis Ford Coppola, best known for his iconic mobster film The Godfather, seems just as passionate about good food and good wine as he does about movies. Shortly after the release of the first Godfather, Coppola made the move from Hollywood to Napa with the opening of Inglenook Winery, producing his first vintage under the label Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery in 1977. 
Winery entrance — Photo courtesy of Chad Keig - Coppola Winery
Even expanding the Inglenook estate to become the largest contiguous-acreage vineyard in Napa wasn't enough for the director's grand vision. In 2010, he opened the Francis Ford Coppola Winery as "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."
Tasting room — Photo courtesy of Chad Keig - Coppola Winery
Influenced by "pleasure gardens" like Coney Island and Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, the Coppola Winery is much more than just a tasting room and restaurant. The property includes a family-friendly swimming pool where the kids can slash while mom and dad enjoy a glass of chardonnay, four regulation-sized bocce courts surrounded by board game tables and a Movie Gallery featuring memorabilia from the director's five-decade filmmaking career.
Godfather display — Photo courtesy of Chad Keig - Coppola Winery
Coppola's sustainably farmed vineyards and on-site wine-making facilities produce more than 40 varieties of wine. Tasting menus change regularly, but all visitors can experience the Rosso & Bianco Tasting – a red and a white table wine – free of charge. The winery takes the tasting experience one step further with wine and food pairing seminars and special in the dark tastings. You can even tour the bottling facility and learn about the significance of each vintage's label.
RUSTIC — Photo courtesy of Chad Keig - Coppola Winery
As with everything else at the winery, RUSTIC, Francis's Favorites serves an intensely personal menu featuring the director's most beloved dishes from his travels throughout the world. While internationally influenced, you can bet the menu has plenty of rustic Italian favorites.