The Family Coppola is coming to the Willamette Valley. They announced today the acquisition of established winery Vista Hills Vineyard in Dayton, their first Oregon property.
The Hollywood family's wine-making home is Geyserville, CA where they make wines from the Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley and Santa Rita Hills. Now they're officially adding the Willamette Valley to the list.
The sale includes Vista Hills' 42-acre vineyard–planted in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris grapes–as well as the Treehouse tasting room. Vista Hills winemaker Dave Patterson will remain on through the transition.
John and Nancy McClintock, who founded Vista Hills in 1995, will remain in the farmhouse on the Vista Hills property and they, along with daughter Cristy and her husband David McDaniel will retain the Vista Hills brand.
The timing of the announcement coincides with harvest season and, according to Patterson, it means "there will be no 2018 Vista Hills wine."
Instead, this year's harvest will be released under a new, Coppola-developed brand yet to be revealed. Vista Hills will continue tasting room operations until December 17, after which the Treehouse will close for a renovation and redecoration, one Patterson said will include the addition of some Coppola movie and family memorabilia.
Patterson anticipates reopening under a new brand in early 2019.
Until then, Vista Hills collectors should plan to visit the tasting room. Patterson anticipates the winery will, in coming weeks, release back vintages of Vista Hills wines from their library program.
Patterson is looking forward to taking this next step, a big one for a winery that, by California standards, could be considered small.
"The Oregon wine business is growing up," he said, "this is what comes from success. We've earned the attention of people who can make wine wherever they choose."
Emily Teel is the Food & Drink Editor at the Statesman Journal. Contact her at eteel@statesmanjournal.com, Facebook, or Twitter. See what she's cooking and where she's eating this week on Instagram: @emily_teel