Coppola’s Director’s Series Premiere

Last week, Manhattan was drenched by rain. One Thursday afternoon, the skies cleared and I made my way over the bridge on the Q-Train to the Union Square station for a moment of respite. The air was thick and sticky and the Sofia Riesling ($17) and Rose ($19) was refreshing and set the ambiance for a delightful lunch at the Gramercy Tavern. The event? Sampling Francis Ford Coppola’s new Director’s Series before it hits shelves in June.

Three course later, made extra sumptuous with perfectly prepared black bass, I listened to wine experts who seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the wine swishing around their palette. Coppola’s Winemaker Corey Beck shared intimate stories about the California wine life, and his creative boss’s intimate involvement with every aspect of production, down to the delicate packaging. Coppola’s been in the wine game since 1975, and he approaches it with personal vigor.

We learned all sorts of fun facts: Sofia was inspired by her French in-laws to refine her namesake wine, and Francis is enthusiastic about the bottle’s labels and steers each new endeavor including an Argentinian wine inspired by his time there filming his new film Tetro. All the fun facts were highlighted by the pleasing taste of wine that’s affordable and still sophisticated.

Before the seating, we tasted 5 wines from the Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection, including the new Alicante Bouschet ($16) and Petite Sirah ($19). (The critics raved about the Black Label Claret.) The Director’s series was the star of the show, and was paired with Gramercy’s delectable fare. The best of the best? The Director’s Pinot Noir ($21) — Sonoma succulent.