Coppola Winery buys vineyards in Cloverdale Peak wine region

Francis Ford Coppola Winery announced Thursday that it has purchased a 100-acre parcel in the Pine Mountain/Cloverdale Peak region, ramping up its land purchases after building up its winery and restaurant businesses.

The Geyserville winery, owned by the famed director, bought the land from Silverwood Ranch owners Barry and Jackie Hoffner. Terms were not disclosed in the deal, which included a 13-acre vineyard producing cabernet sauvignon and malbec grapes.

Coppola had been sourcing grapes from the vineyard since 2007 for use in its high-end Archimedes label, said Corey Beck, president and director of winemaking for Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

The company has been busy in recent years. A new winery, Virginia Dare, was established in 2015 at the former Geyser Peak Winery, and last year a restaurant, Werowocomoco was opened at the new winery location.

“It was a point of focus in past years on both the winery and the restaurant,” Beck said. “Things are coming together there, so now the focus is on the vineyards.”

The purchase will give the winery, which had 52 acres of estate vineyards, the opportunity to expand by another 30 acres on the Silverwood property, he said. Coppola is also looking at other areas around Sonoma County for additional purchases, Beck added.

The region, with a little more than 300 acres of vineyards, is known for its high elevation with the average parcel at around 2,100 feet, said Barry Hoffner. The area is above the fog line and receives a tremendous amount of sunlight throughout the day, allowing for a more flavorful fruit with softer tannins.

“It’s a very ripe, well-developed fruit,” he said.

Coppola’s purchase will likely give more prominence to the region, the only American Viticultural Area that is within the borders of both Sonoma and Mendocino counties, Hoffner noted. Imagery Estate Winery in Glen Ellen and Jackson Family Wines also source grapes from the area.