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After meeting with Tom Fotinos I headed back to Yountville to collect Steve and Peter-who were sitting in the sun on a patio enjoying cool beverages. Our 3pm appointment was at Rubicon Estate, owned by Mr. Francis Ford Coppola. We had a guided tour scheduled, but when we arrived, Harold-our tour guide, asked if we might like to participate in something a little different. In one of the caves at the winery-they were doing a live 'radio-show'. The show was a reading of F.Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. It was 
about to start as we arrived, so we hastily pulled together 3 chairs, Harold got us a glass of wine, and we were good to go. As the lights went down-illuminating the narrator, I noticed 2 stragglers sneak in and sit on the reserved bench behind us. It was Mr.Coppola himself! After hearing the story, (a shortened version) complete with sound effects and beautiful piano accompaniment by a gal with an amazing voice..it was off for our tour. Peter left us-to head back to Sausalito, and Steve and Harold and I set off up the knoll to the left of the Estate. You can't tell from highway 29-that over the hill is a long driveway leading to Mr. Coppola's actual residence. There are sev
eral buildings back there-one of which is where the production work of his films was, and is done. Also on the property sits the oldest house in Napa Valley. The property is gorgeous. Mr Coppola acquired it in 1975 renaming it Niebaum Coppola, after Gustave Niebaum, the Sea Captain who had founded Inglenook Winery in 1880 on that site. Initially Mr. Coppola just wanted a nice property where he could make a little wine in his basement as his father had done. It took him over 20 years to reunite all the vineyards, and restore the property to how it was when Gustave owned it. Located in Rutherford, the winery makes 
impressive Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently Mr. Coppola jokes that The Godfather bought him his house, and Dracula bought him the rest of the estate! (he produced Bram Stoker's Dracula) The museum, tasting room, and cafe, are all worthwhile to visit. It is like stepping back in time, and a great Napa Valley history lesson.
After meeting with Tom Fotinos I headed back to Yountville to collect Steve and Peter-who were sitting in the sun on a patio enjoying cool beverages. Our 3pm appointment was at Rubicon Estate, owned by Mr. Francis Ford Coppola. We had a guided tour scheduled, but when we arrived, Harold-our tour guide, asked if we might like to participate in something a little different. In one of the caves at the winery-they were doing a live 'radio-show'. The show was a reading of F.Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. It was 
about to start as we arrived, so we hastily pulled together 3 chairs, Harold got us a glass of wine, and we were good to go. As the lights went down-illuminating the narrator, I noticed 2 stragglers sneak in and sit on the reserved bench behind us. It was Mr.Coppola himself! After hearing the story, (a shortened version) complete with sound effects and beautiful piano accompaniment by a gal with an amazing voice..it was off for our tour. Peter left us-to head back to Sausalito, and Steve and Harold and I set off up the knoll to the left of the Estate. You can't tell from highway 29-that over the hill is a long driveway leading to Mr. Coppola's actual residence. There are sev
eral buildings back there-one of which is where the production work of his films was, and is done. Also on the property sits the oldest house in Napa Valley. The property is gorgeous. Mr Coppola acquired it in 1975 renaming it Niebaum Coppola, after Gustave Niebaum, the Sea Captain who had founded Inglenook Winery in 1880 on that site. Initially Mr. Coppola just wanted a nice property where he could make a little wine in his basement as his father had done. It took him over 20 years to reunite all the vineyards, and restore the property to how it was when Gustave owned it. Located in Rutherford, the winery makes 
impressive Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently Mr. Coppola jokes that The Godfather bought him his house, and Dracula bought him the rest of the estate! (he produced Bram Stoker's Dracula) The museum, tasting room, and cafe, are all worthwhile to visit. It is like stepping back in time, and a great Napa Valley history lesson.
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