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Wine Business Monthly
RUTHERFORD, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2025) – As Inglenook marks 50 years of Coppola Family leadership, the winery’s Director of Vineyard and Cellar Operations, Enrique Herrero, is pleased to announce that Inglenook – which has been certified organic since 1994 – has also received Napa Green Vineyard certification, recognizing Inglenook’s success in several areas.
Among other achievements throughout the vineyard, Inglenook was distinguished for its role as a leader in Napa Valley’s efforts to set a new global standard in climate action, regenerative farming, and social equity. Founded in 1879, Inglenook’s proprietors for the last 50 years have been Francis Ford Coppola and his late wife, Eleanor.
“It’s important to all of us at Inglenook to do what’s best for the environment as we craft internationally acclaimed wines, and that starts with the Coppola Family,” said Herrero. “The values embraced by our Napa Green Vineyard certification are embedded in Inglenook’s 146-year history and in the last half-century they were deepened by Mrs. Coppola’s inspirational guidance.”
One of the most historic and sustainably focused wineries in Napa Valley, Inglenook is America’s Grand Wine Estate. Founded in 1879, Inglenook is the largest contiguous estate on Napa Valley’s famed Rutherford Bench, and has consistently been making exceptional wines across three centuries with the utmost care and attention to detail, under the stewardship of just two families throughout most of its history.
50 Years of Coppola Family Stewardship
Inglenook enjoyed global success from 1879 – 1964 under founder Gustave Niebaum and his descendants, but the winery was sold to a corporation and for 11 years the people running Inglenook dismantled the original estate and strayed from its previous leaders’ commitment to excellence. In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola and his late wife, Eleanor, were searching for a modest vacation cottage and instead ended up purchasing Gustave Niebaum’s home and a portion of the original Inglenook estate. The Coppolas soon discovered what a treasure they had acquired and vowed to restore Inglenook’s esteemed reputation.
Over the past 50 years the Coppola family has reunited all of the contiguous vineyards of the original Inglenook estate (1995); purchased the estate’s iconic chateau (1995); bought back Inglenook’s name and trademark (2011); hired the esteemed Philippe Bascaules as Director of Winemaking (2011); and built an eco-friendly winery cave that has 120 stainless steel fermenters that correspond to 120 distinct growing areas (2022).
The Coppola Family’s Environmental Leadership & Innovation
It’s extraordinary for Inglenook’s team to work with proprietors who are as passionately committed to conservation and environmental stewardship as the Coppolas are. In 1995, led by the Coppolas, Inglenook granted a conservation easement – in conjunction with the Napa County Land Trust – for 394 undeveloped acres that will preserve and protect the land in its natural condition.
Alice Waters from Chez Panisse inspired Eleanor Coppola to pursue organic farming at Inglenook in the 1980’s, and Inglenook was one of the first estates in Napa Valley to be certified organic in 1994. Francis Ford Coppola has a keen interest in science and introduced electric cars on the Inglenook estate in 2011. The team has since added electric forklifts and Ford F-150 electric trucks.
Inglenook has also experimented with biochar. When vineyards are removed, the vines are turned into biochar using special “burn boxes.” This method reduces the amount of smoke and CO2 released into the environment compared to traditional burning. The resulting biochar is then incorporated back into the soil, where it helps increase the nutrient and water holding capacity of the soil.
As part of its mission to preserve and expand local biodiversity, Inglenook has planted hedgerows of native plants along some of the vineyards. These hedgerows feed and attract pollinating insects. Native riparian plants were also planted along Bella Oaks Creek, augmenting the willows and oaks that have been preserved there and providing continuous habitat for wildlife. Milkweeds and other native wildflowers have also been planted on the estate to feed monarch butterflies. Inglenook is also collaborating on a study focused on the effectiveness of bluebirds and sparrows in controlling pests in the vineyard.
About Inglenook
Inglenook was founded in Napa Valley in 1879 and has made high-quality, well-farmed wine consistently across three centuries. Family-owned, with multiple generations dedicated to its stewardship, Inglenook is America’s Grand Wine Estate.
Totaling 235 planted acres, Inglenook is divided into 120 discrete viticultural areas, meticulously differentiated by a set of meaningful criteria, from year of their planting to topography and soil – and even daily tastings of the fruit in each harvest area. These 120 harvest areas align with a corresponding set of 120 fermentation tanks in the new cave winery. This micro focus informs a relentless, visionary study to understand the property’s nuanced terroir, with the perpetual goal of enhancing the wines’ overall quality. Inglenook has unprecedented control from the vineyard to the final blends, forming the exceptional quality of Inglenook’s five quintessential wines: Rubicon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, a distinctive Marsanne-Roussanne-Viognier blend called Blancaneaux, and RC Reserve Syrah, crafted by Director of Winemaking Philippe Bascaules.
Inglenook’s iconic chateau was first constructed in 1887, and faithfully restored in 1997. Befitting the grandeur of the Inglenook estate, the chateau welcomes guests for seated tastings and special events. Inglenook is located at 1991 St. Helena Highway in Rutherford (Napa Valley), and can be found on social media @inglenook1879, and online at www.inglenook.com. The estate is open to guests by appointment only and reservations can be made by contacting reservations@inglenook.com.
About Napa Green: The Napa Green 501c3 is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates whole system soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the expertise, boots-on-the-ground support, and resources to continually improve. Learn more at https://napagreen.org/participating-members/.
Anna Brittain
Napa Green
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