Past Issues: Easy to Find One Figure Wines,
apr/may 2000

This issue's ETFOFW is . . . Francis Coppola's Bianco and Rosso

On the back of these Niebaum-Coppola table wines is the following message from Francis Ford Coppola:

"My earliest memories as a child include wine. My family has always made wine. To hear it from my Uncle Mikey, these were not fancy wines, but everyday wines; wines that were on the dinner table each night..."

That's what I'm talking about, people. Everyday wines. No cellaring. And no guilt for not cellaring. As an aside, my earliest memories as a Southern Baptist child include iced tea. Or to quote Dolly Parton's character in Steel Magnolias, "iced tea; the house wine of the south."

Both the red (Rosso) and the white (Bianco) were just dandy. Nothing complicated, just easy to drink wines. The Rosso is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. I'm a Zinfandel freak and with it's Zin base, the Rosso did not let me down. The other varietals smoothed this baby out to make a well-rounded red. 

The Bianco is a blend of Chardonnay, Johannisberg Riesling, Muscat Alexandria, and Malvasia Bianca (how fun is that?). What initially struck me as sweet was probably more of a floral thing (reminded me a bit of a light Viognier) and, ultimately, the Bianco proved a crisp and fruity wine.

Man, that sounds good!

ETFOFW Summary:

Wine: Niebaum-Coppola Rosso 1998
Varietal: Red table wine
Price: Around $9
Availability: National distribution and via the Niebaum-Coppola website.

Wine: Niebaum-Coppola Presents Bianco 1998
Varietal: White table wine
Price: Around $9
Availability: National distribution and via the Niebaum-Coppola website.

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