“Bonasera, Bonasera” were the two words I immediately thought of as I gazed at this desk.  It was THE DESK, where a man petted a cat, while listening to “I believe in America.”  All that was separating me and that desk was a rope fence and probably an army of guards.  We were at the film museum at the Niebaum/Coppola Estate.  Francis Ford Coppola gave himself second billing to the original Niebaum Winery, yes that Francis Ford Coppola.

When we were planning the trip to Napa, I found out that you could go to the winery and do a tasting, or if you planned ahead what wonders awaited you.  The special reserve booking gave you a tour of the grounds, you could see his residence way in the back, the fountains, his editing studio and his museum.  The entire estate was a museum and they made wine there as well.  There were displays of old original equipment that made the earliest films.  A zoetrope was there, that his production company is named after.  There were Oscars and more Oscars on display, and rightfully earned.  On the second floor there were big movie props. There was a Tucker automobile, a piece of artwork from Dracula, a wicker cage from Apocalypse Now and that desk from the Godfather films.

After the tour and we had worked up a thirst, we were taken to one of the original wine cellars of the old estate, with old dusty bottles and the ambience that could not be totally captured on film.  There was a Riedel wine glass, etched with the crest and name in gold, at each seating area.  Our guide and host for the tasting gave us a history of the estate and how Mr. Copolla finally had acquired all of the original ground of the original estate, and how he wanted to maintain the authenticity of the grounds and structures.

They then proceeded to pour a taste of every wine that was produced, quite a monumental tasting, though I admit that I did “spit” out most of the wine.  Some were very humble, almost rustic, as if recalling the days of homemade wines.  Through different collections of wines, we tasted and then culminating with a full pour of Rubicon.  That was what I was waiting for.  In the normal general tasting room, they did not do Rubicon, and I did want to try that wine.  Rubicon is what is referred to as a Meritage, but they do not belong to the Meritage Society.  A Meritage wine is akin to Bordeaux blended claret and usually the best the vintner has to offer.  It was wonderful, a deep color, a complex nose, a robust taste and after-taste, just what I had hoped for.   I truly felt that I had wisely spent my money on this tour and tasting event.  As I nursed that last glass and listened to all the conversations about this wine, I came to the realization that the other people were there, just to taste that wine as well.

The grounds, the building, the museum, and the fabulous old cellar/tasting room was indeed worth the price of admission.  Then we started figuring out the wines that we wish to purchase at that moment.  We ordered some bottles of the Chardonnay, Viognier, and the Diamond Merlot and of course some Rubicon.  While they were processing our order, and I was finishing the last of the wine and feeling quite pleased, our tour guide host said to each of us “please take your glass home as a souvenir.”  A very pleasant bonus, and it is usually the glass that I use for all of my dinners, even when everyone else has matching glasses to go with the china.  I am reminded of that afternoon, all the time.