Francis Ford Coppolas Encyclopedia

Famed director Francis Ford Coppola is not only an uber-talented filmmaker, but he’s responsible for some truly wonderful and reasonably priced wines. A few months ago the director released a new label — Encyclopedia, $15.00.

Each of the wines produced under the Encyclopedia label come in apothecary-esque beaker-shaped, screw-top bottles. The fun packaging goes along with the labels aim to satisfy the thirst for knowledge and adventure for a new generation who has just begun to travel the globe grape by grape. Fittingly the website Coppola has created to support his new label is chock-full of useful information including a glossary of wine terms which you can check-out by going to Encyclopediawines.com.

Currently there are six wines to choose from — Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Malbec, Riesling, Torronts, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each varietal is made with grapes from that varietals native region — Pinot Grigio made with grapes from delle Venezia, Italy; Riesling made with grapes from Mosel, Germany; Cabernet Sauvignon made with grapes from Bordeaux, France; Tempranillo made with grapes from Yecla, Spain, etc. A brightly colored stamp label showing the country and region of origin complements the embossed bottle and there are fun wine quotes printed on the oversized custom screw-caps (the largest caps on the wine market!).

The wonderful packaging of the wines certainly makes the bottles stand-out, but there is also a double purpose to their shape fashioned after a decanter–the bottles wine opening allows oxygen to accentuate the aromas and flavors of the wine inside as you pour. Plus, after consuming your wine, the bottles can be recycled and used for decorative purposes!

Encylopedia will change countries and varietal each year so we can look forward to Torrontes from Argentina, Gruner Veltlinger from Austria, a ros from Provence, France, and possibly a Feteasca Negra from Romania in the future. In the meantime check-out the website and order-up some of their current offerings for some delightfully, drinkable wines.

(photo credit: jypsyjen)

April 7th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in Types | (0)