Francis Ford Coppola announces a major vineyard acquisition for The Family Coppola with the purchase of a 100-acre parcel in the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak American Viticultural Area (AVA). The purchase includes the 13-acre Silverwood Vineyard, an ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec producing vineyard whose fruit has contributed to Coppola’s highly-acclaimed flagship Archimedes wine for several vintages. Coppola purchased the property from Silverwood Ranch owners Barry and Jackie Hoffner, who’ve been considered some of the pioneers of the distinguished AVA, and have been instrumental growers in the Coppolas’ vast grapegrower portfolio for years.
“We’re proud to acquire the high-elevation Silverwood Vineyard,” says Steve Spadarotto, The Family Coppola’s CEO. “This is our first step in a strategic shift to focus on vineyard acquisitions, selecting parcels and vineyard blocks that reflect the county’s distinctive terroir and heritage.” The AVA’s defining characteristic is its high elevation that varies between 1,600 – 3,000 feet, which exposes vineyards to daylight longer than the fog-covered valleys.
“Since we’ve been sourcing Silverwood Vineyard fruit for Archimedes for years, Francis has decided to rename the lot Archimedes Vineyard, paying homage to his uncle for whom the wine is named,” says Corey Beck, President & Director of Winemaking at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Francis’s “Uncle Archie” was named after the legendary mathematician and inventor known for developing the Archimedes heat ray, a device that takes advantage of the sun’s rays – made famous during the Siege of Syracuse, which is depicted on the wine’s label. Beck added, “We also plan to take full advantage of the sun’s rays by planting about 30 acres as early as next year, all aligned within our sustainability model that we embrace.”
The Hoffners, who continue to operate their 1,100-acre Silverwood Ranch, are pleased to welcome the winery as their new neighbor. “We highly value that they recognize the superior quality of wine grapes grown within Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, and we appreciate their efforts to be good stewards of the land in an area that we cherish,” says Hoffner.
The winery has consistently shown success as a premium wine producer, having received critical acclaim for many of its wines, including Archimedes, which recently received a score of 94+ from critic Robert Parker. This is the family’s third significant investment in Sonoma County since they purchased the former Chateau Souverain property in 2010, revitalizing and renaming it Francis Ford Coppola Winery. In March 2013, they purchased the former Geyser Peak facility and surrounding vineyards, renaming it Virginia Dare Winery.
www.TheFamilyCoppola.com.