Winemaker Profile:

Francis Ford Coppola Presents

COREY BECK

by Millie Howie
“When I was a kid,” Corey Beck, Director of Winemaking at Rosso & Bianco winery in Geyserville, recalls, “my grandfather, John Rolleri, was working at Chateau Montelena, where he planted the Chardonnay vines from which the wine was made that bested four of France’s top white burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in the famous blind-tasting in Paris in 1976.
“I spent all my summers with him and he taught me about growing grapes. He loved the vineyards. I remember those summers in the vineyards as the happiest times of my life. After I graduated from high school in Calistoga, there was never any question about what I planned to do. I headed for the University of California at Davis and where I earned my degree in enology. I went to work at Chateau Montelena in the cellar and lab for four years, then, in 1998 Francis Ford Coppola hired me as assistant winemaker at Rubicon Estate (formerly Niebaum Coppola) where I had the opportunity to work with my mentor, Scott McLeod. My experience there opened my eyes to the influence growing regions had on the vineyards and the grapes.”
In 2006, Coppola bought Chateau Souverain and he asked Corey to research what varieties of grapes would do best in the area. Lise Asimont, the Director of Grower Relations, was incredible at defining the ideal grapes for each north coast area, and Sandy Walheim, Winemaker for the Sonoma County brands was instrumental in expanding the breadth of range. One important site was the family vineyards of Marty Petersen, Winemaker for the Coppola Diamond Series, which had been supplying superior grapes for premium wines for three generations.
“We do some conventional things,” Corey explains, “but innovations are usually generated by Francis and enthusiastically carried out by the rest of us. An example is the Rosso & Bianco wine-in-a-glass. Francis said, ‘I can go to the supermarket and buy almost any beverage in a single serving package, but not wine.’ So we developed a 187ml plastic glass, with an aluminum lid. We have only produced 1,000 cases, just the Rosso (red) and the Bianco (white), until we see how it does in the marketplace.
Another addition to the wine line came about as a result of Francis’ wanting a special sparkling wine to serve at his daughter Sofia’s wedding. Corey and his crew came up with a blend of Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc and made 200 cases, by the Charmat process, for the wedding. After the event Francis said everyone loved it, so he would like to produce it to sell at the winery. The charming Blanc de Blanc is named for Coppola’s daughter, and is packaged in a beautiful pink cellophane wrapped bottle or a bright pink can with a straw to encourage easy sipping.
Now on the horizon is a new series called “Encyclopedia” that salutes prime wine grape growing regions around the world: 10,000 cases were produced, 2,500 each of Pinot Grigio, from Italy; Tempranillo, Spain; Cabernet Sauvignon, France; and Riesling, Germany. The package is totally unique, with a proprietary mold in the shape of a modified carafe designed, and a screw cap that is the largest in use in the wine industry.
The intent at the new facility will be to provide family entertainment with the winery as a destination for a day trip, not just a drop by and taste wine spot.
Additional information about the Rosso & Bianco plans may be found on the website at www.rossobianco.com.

Related Information

• Rosso & Bianco