The Godfather

If you don't know, you should know - Francis Ford Coppola makes great wine. His films aren't bad either. Over the last thirty years, Coppola has taken his passion for wine and turned it into a tangible, profitable and enjoyable business venture. He bought a plot of land in California, turned it into a successful vineyard and now sells thousands of bottles that contain some of the best reds, whites and bubblies at almost every price point. This article in the Chicago Tribune gives an excellent run-down of Coppola's progress in the world of wine. It also highlights how with success has come innovation, giving him the room to try out some new ideas and inventive packaging. If you're not familiar with the Coppola brand, read the article, buy a bottle (or a single serving!) and enjoy.

From the Tribune:

Coppola is the idea man in developing wine products. Why, he wondered, couldn't a person go into a convenience store and buy a glass of wine to go with lunch without the hassle of bottles, glasses and corkscrews? Out of that came "Wine by the Glass," a 187-milliliter (just over 6 ounces) portion of red or white wine in a bistro-style glass with a peel-off foil lid. It costs about $1. . . "We want them to have quality, authenticity and pleasure," Coppola said of the public. "Above all, quality, because we know wine, in certain areas, has gotten expensive and we really want to give something worth what you pay."