Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Virginia Dare Winery, Sonoma County Vintners and Santa Rosa Junior College develop hands-on educational course and opportunity for real-world wine industry experience
GEYSERVILLE, Calif. (June 5, 2019) – The Family Coppola, including Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Virginia Dare Winery, join together with Sonoma County Vintners and Santa Rosa Junior College to offer a new entry-level, practical training course for students who wish to enter the Sonoma County wine industry this harvest season. The three-day experiential program includes combined classroom and practical learning to provide a unique wine industry introduction.
“It’s important we work together as a community to create innovative ideas that encourage more interest in careers in the wine industry,” says Corey Beck, The Family Coppola CEO and Winemaking Chief. “This innovative program is a win-win for students and for wineries. Students go beyond the classroom for a behind-the-scenes look into an operating winery and the chance to build relationships with its experts who are actively recruiting for current or future positions.”
Mornings will be spent in the classroom with Santa Rosa Junior College faculty and industry expert, Pat Henderson, addressing a variety of critical topics for winery operations, cellar work and beyond. Participants will roll up their sleeves each afternoon for wine facility tours and hands-on training with industry professionals. Educational topics include an overview of wine (crush, fermentation and cellar practices), winery safety and cellar maintenance and management, among other aspects. Francis Ford Coppola’s Virginia Dare Winery is the first to host students as part of this effort. Francis Ford Coppola Winery will also participate in the program and there’s an opportunity for more winery involvement in the future.
“We’ve heard the Sonoma County wine community’s concerns regarding the limited number of skilled applicants for crucial roles in production,” said Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners Executive Director. “This program is just the first step towards providing solutions for this critical issue within our community. We are proud to partner with the SRJC and The Family Coppola on this important new training program to begin to bridge the gap in staffing needs.”
Visit Santa Rosa Junior College online to learn more.
About The Family Coppola
The Family Coppola encompasses all of the things Francis loves most—cinema, wine, food, resorts and adventure—and embraces quality, authenticity and pleasure as a backbone to each of these vibrant business endeavors. Anchored in Sonoma County, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, known for its superior level of quality and integrity, is, as Francis puts it, “a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life: food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life.” Coppola’s second foray into Sonoma County came in 2015 with the launch of Virginia Dare Winery, American wines since 1835, ushering in a new era of elevated quality and vineyard-specific wines. Domaine de Broglie is the newest high-end wine brand and vineyard in esteemed Willamette Valley honoring science, history, discovery and premium Oregon wines. The Family Coppola are lovers not only of wine, but spirits as well. Great Women Spirits—small-batch, house-crafted, classically styled spirits—are a collection of spirits as unique and remarkable as the women they honor. The Family Coppola Hideaways are a collection of unique properties where adventure meets serenity. Drawing upon inspiration from his film career and travels around the globe to the far-reaching corners of the world, Francis created each resort, embracing off the beaten path locations and making each locale an ideal destination for exploring the natural wonders of the area while relaxing in tranquil surroundings. Additionally, The Family Coppola operates a venerable film production company, American Zoetrope; the award-winning literary and art magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story; Cafe Zoetrope in San Francisco’s iconic Sentinel Building in North Beach; and Mammarella Foods, an authentic line of premium organic pastas and sauces. Earn and redeem points through Coppola Rewards membership at CoppolaRewards.com or visit www.TheFamilyCoppola.com to learn more.
About Sonoma County Vintners
Sonoma County Vintners is the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, dedicated to raising awareness of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine regions. Sonoma County Vintners represents over 200 wineries throughout the county. We actively promote Sonoma County through our educational programming; advocate for our vintners at local, state and federal levels; and contribute to our local communities through our charitable foundation, Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. Sonoma County Wine Auction, our annual fundraiser, has raised over $30 million benefiting non-profit organizations throughout the region. To learn more about Sonoma County Vintners, visit sonomawine.com.
