Francis Ford Coppola Winery Launches "Perfect Your Pizza" Competition

Home Pizza Chefs Battle For 25K And a Trip To Coppola Winery In Sonoma County, CA. Renowned Pizza Expert & Author Dan Richer Enlisted as Principal Judge.

GEYSERVILLE, Calif., Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Francis Ford Coppola Winery, the iconic Sonoma County winery behind the award-winning Diamond Collection label, today announces its first annual "Perfect Your Pizza" competition. The campaign tasks home chefs with developing their own original pizza recipes for the chance to win $25,000 and the title of "Pizza and Wine Pairing Principal." The top four contestants will receive an expenses-paid trip to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma County to compete in a cookoff for the grand cash prize.

The inspiration for "Perfect Your Pizza" came from the notion that Italian cuisine, and specifically pizza, are intrinsically present in the Coppola family and brand DNA, as it has and continues to be an ideal companion dish to the dynamic portfolio of Diamond Collection Wines. Rustic, the storied dining destination at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, CA, has been serving delicious wood-fired pizzas for years to legions of fans and visitors.

"As a popular and well-known U.S. wine brand, we wanted to find a way to involve our fans on a deeper level and provide something fun and interactive in return for their years of support," said Gabriela Becker, VP of Marketing for Coppola Wines. "Everyone loves pizza, and nothing pairs with it like a glass of our Diamond Collection wines, so we are excited to see the recipes America comes up with!"

To help inspire prospective pizzaiolos, Coppola has enlisted one of the country's foremost authorities on the subject: Dan Richer, author of New York Times best-selling cookbook, The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know. Richer has developed three original recipes, specifically designed to pair perfectly with Diamond Collection wines, to help spark the creativity of those who want to try their hand at submitting for the competition. Recipes are available upon request with high-res images.

Margherita al Filetti: Fresh plum tomato sott'olio (confit), fresh mozzarella, garlic and basil

• This is a variation on the classic Margherita pizza. The fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil combination is endlessly inspirational because if one component is changed, it changes the entire experience- texture, flavor, and appearance of the pizza. Here we substitute the classic tomato sauce for a fresh tomato, gently cooked in extra virgin olive oil, which transforms the tomato into a meltingly juicy and sweet bite that perfectly balances the rich mozzarella. Coppola Diamond Collection Prosecco Rosé perfectly cuts this pizza's rich cheese and picks up on the wine's sweetness and acidity and tomato and basil notes.

Fields of Green: Green olives (preferably Castelvetrano), capers, pine nuts, lemon, parsley, oregano, and ricotta salata

• This pizza has all of the flavors of Sicily and will make you dream of a day in the summer sun. It pairs beautifully with Coppola Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc.

The Cal-Ital: California dates, fresh mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano.

• The dates are cooked in red wine (ideally cabernet) creating an incredible sauce that is drizzled on top of arugula, prosciutto and a flurry of Parmigiano. Sweet, salty, savory! The salty ham and sweet wine sauce make this a fabulous pairing with Coppola Diamond Collection Claret.

"I've made pizza my life's work," said Dan Richer, author of The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know (Little Brown and Company). "Through this, I've learned that the right glass of wine can make one of the best pizzas even better, and I'm excited to partner with Coppola to help contestants find the perfect pizza pairing with the winery's amazing lineup of Diamond Collection wines."

Contestants can enter by visiting http://www.coppolaperfectyourpizza.com and providing their ingredient lists, full recipe and inspiration for their creations. The deadline for entry is October 31st. Follow along on Instagram @coppolawine and at http://www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com.

About Francis Ford Coppola Winery Rooted in Sonoma County, California, Francis Ford Coppola Winery is known for its superior level of quality and integrity. Owned by Delicato Family Wines, one of the fastest-growing top-ten wine companies in the U.S., Francis Ford Coppola winery is home to more than forty wines produced on-site in a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, encompassed by sustainably farmed vineyards. These award-winning, globally recognized wines are crafted uniquely for every wine occasion and include the popular Diamond Collection and sparkling Sofia wines, as well as the winery-exclusive Francis Coppola Reserve wines. The winery grounds are, 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." Located in Geyserville, the estate offers visitors a variety of tasting experiences and seasonal events, as well as culinary delights from the on-property restaurant Rustic, two swimming pools joined by views of surrounding vineyards, and a vast collection of cinematic history.

About Dan Richer
Richer is the chef and owner of Razza in Jersey City. A graduate of Rutgers University, he skipped his own graduation to fly to Italy and begin his real education: in pizza. He is a four-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic award, as well as a James Beard Rising Star Chef semifinalist.

About Dan Richer's The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know
The Joy of Pizza starts with the basics—dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings—then takes the reader through the infinite possibilities and expressions of America's favorite food. Complete with instructions for making dough with commercial yeast as well as sourdough starters, baking the pies in your standard home oven as well as wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens, Richer helps beginner and expert pizza makers take their skills to the next level. Rich with step-by-step photography, including QR codes that link to instructional videos and portraits of every pizza both before and after it is cooked, this book is the quintessential guide for home bakers and professionals alike to master drool-worthy pizzas.

Media Contact

Francis Ford Coppola Winery PR, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 1 203-912-5489, FFCW@thedooronline.com

SOURCE Francis Ford Coppola Winery