The faux Chateau-meets-hopkiln pile known as Chateau Souverain, just north of Geyserville in the Alexander Valley (page 200), changed hands in February 2006. Parent company Fosters Wine Estates sold the property to Francis Ford Coppola's outfit and big changes are planned (think coach-loads of tourists). The Souverain label, however, lives on.

Coppola was reportedly attacted by the property's restaurant (one of the few at a California winery) and its permit for a hotel (also one of the few). He evidently plans to shift his museum, including perhaps the family's hoard of Oscars, from the former Niebaum-Coppola winery in Napa Valley (which will be renamed Rubicon Estate and has undergone it's own changes) to his new Geyserville palace, which will be called Francis Coppola Winery and used to push his lower-end wines.

The restaurant is exepcted to remain open in some form or another, and we should also expect various resort-like luxuries in the future, possibly a fancy hotel. Also expect hoards of tourists - something that should excite nearby wineries including Clos du Val and Trentadue. 

Coppola only bought the Chateau Souverain property, not the label or its vineyards, so the Chateau Souverain wine will live on and be made at a newly-refurbished wine-making facility at the historic Asti Winery just a few miles north, also owned by parent company Fosters. Until a tasting room is built at the Asti winery, however, the only place to taste the Souverain wines (which are pretty good for the price) is at the Cellar 360 tasting room on the south side of Healdsburg's plaza.