Corey Beck knows a thing or two about vino. As the president and director of winemaking for the famed Francis Ford Coppola Winery, he’s an industry expert. So we asked the pro to spill some of his craft secrets.
How did your story begin with the Coppola family?
I started 18 years ago as assistant winemaker at Niebaum-Coppola Winery. My first job was making Rubicon from the Estate with winemaker Scott McLeod. To this day, we use the same techniques in making a $200 bottle of wine as we do a $20 bottle.
What’s involved in the day-to-day of being a winemaker?
There’s a lot of tasting and decisions. Francis always compares it to being a director – another role with many decisions. We’re always trying to create the perfect wine, so it’s not finished until we put it in the bottle.
What’s your favorite Coppola movie character, and which wine do you think they’d drink?
By far, it’s George C. Scott in his role as Patton. It’s one of the greatest movies ever made, in my opinion. He’s a person that would drink Cabernet Sauvignon; it fits his personality.
How do you uncover the inner wine lover in someone?
It has to start with food, in my opinion. The reason wine is so popular in Europe is because food and tradition go hand in hand. It needs to be part of our everyday life.
If you’re not a wine drinker, where is a great place to start?
Keep it lighter and maybe a touch sweet to start. The typical American diet has a lot of sugar in it, so having a wine that follows suit isn’t a bad thing. Let’s not forget White Zinfandel has started a lot of wine love affairs.
It’s your turn to sip like one of the greats. Our TK Boutique opened November 2, 2015, at 3PM ET.
By Kim Watson, Staff Writer
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