A Sense of Place

Synopsis

InA Sense of Place, renouned wine expert Steven Kolpan tells the stry of how Francis Ford Coppola brought California's most distinguished and historical vineyard back to life. Gustave Niebaum's Inglenook Estate, started in 1879, was one of California's first established vineyards and the birthplace of its premium wine industry. Generations after Niebaum's death, the vineyard was sold to Heublein (the distributor of Smirnoff Vodka, among others) who broke up the land and changed the brand from a premium, connoisseur wine to a mass-market jug wine. In 1975, Coppola bought the Niebaum residence and the surrounding estate. Along with the original estate reputation, he also brought back some of its original workers, including Rafael Rodriguez, who, in his late seventies, now serves as the vineyard manager and historian. Coppola overcame naysayer, red tape, and financial turmoil to reestablish the winery as a defender of quality, producing wine under four different labels, including the revered winedRubicon and Cask Cabernet. In 1995, Coppola purchased the Inglenook Chateau and its adjacent vineyard, fulfilling his dream of reuniting the original Napa Valley Estate. Kolpan's luscious, flavorful narrative is worth enjoying now and keeping for later.