Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend Scarlet Label

Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend Scarlet Label is a multi-varietal California red blend from Sonoma County bottled at 13.9% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The 2014 vintage earned Silver medals at both the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the California State Fair, underscoring its consistency as a well-built, approachable red.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.9%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Style: Multi-Varietal Red Blend  |  Producer: Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Production & Heritage

Francis Ford Coppola Winery, headquartered in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, is the wine venture of acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. The Scarlet Label Red Blend is created exclusively by taste—winemakers evaluate the most expressive lots of fruit available each vintage and combine selections until they achieve optimal harmony. The blend shifts from year to year; recent vintages have featured combinations of Petit Verdot, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, and Cabernet Sauvignon, while earlier releases leaned on Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. A portion of the final blend is aged up to 12 months in French and American oak barrels, building structure without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe cherry and raspberry, layered with caramel and a subtle floral lift of violet. Deeper inhales reveal toasted oak and a faint smoky quality that adds complexity.

Taste: The entry is soft and fruit-forward, dominated by blueberry and dark plum. At mid-palate, black pepper, clove, and exotic wood spice emerge, framed by sturdy but polished tannins. The overall impression is powerful yet approachable—lush extracted fruit balanced by enough tannic grip to hold everything together.

Finish: Medium-long, with a velvety texture that carries lingering notes of dark berry and smoky oak. The spice recedes gradually, leaving a warm, earthy close.

How to Drink Scarlet Label Red Blend

This wine drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F) with no decanting required, though 20–30 minutes in a wide-bowled glass opens up the aromatic layers. Its fruit density and balanced tannins also make it a strong cocktail and sangria candidate. A classic Red Wine Sangria benefits from its dark berry backbone and spice. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) works here because the wine's richness holds up against carbonation. For a winter warmer, a Mulled Wine preparation pairs naturally with the existing clove and pepper notes already present in the blend.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a reliable, crowd-pleasing red
• Introducing red blends to someone exploring beyond single-varietal wines
• Casual dinner parties centered around grilled meats or pasta
• Building a diverse California wine collection at an accessible price tier

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Scarlet Label Red Blend taste like? It delivers ripe dark berry fruit—blueberry, plum, and cherry—interwoven with black pepper, clove, and toasted oak, all carried on a velvety, medium-bodied frame. Sturdy tannins provide structure without overwhelming the fruit.

How does the Scarlet Label compare to Apothic Red? Both are multi-varietal California red blends at a similar price tier, but the Scarlet Label leans more savory and spice-driven with its Petit Verdot and Syrah components, while Apothic Red tends sweeter with more pronounced vanilla. The Coppola blend also benefits from partial aging in French oak, which adds a layer of tannic complexity.

Is the Scarlet Label good for beginners? Yes—its soft entry, generous fruit, and moderate 13.9% ABV make it highly approachable for drinkers new to red wine, while the spice and oak complexity keep experienced palates engaged.

Where is the Scarlet Label made? It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, located in Geyserville in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, one of northern California's premier winegrowing regions.

What foods pair well with the Scarlet Label? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's peppery spice. Slow-braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit depth. Mushroom risotto echoes the earthy undertones. Aged cheddar or Gouda amplify the toasted oak notes. Smoky barbecue ribs play off the wine's own smoky nuance on the finish.

What sizes does the Scarlet Label come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is the Scarlet Label worth the price? It positions as an entry-level to mid-range California red blend, and its partial oak aging, vintage-specific blending approach, and Silver medal track record deliver strong value relative to its price tier.

Why Scarlet Label Red Blend?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of California red blends is the vintage-to-vintage blending philosophy—rather than following a fixed formula, the winemaking team assembles lots purely by palate, choosing whichever varietals and proportions produce the most harmonious result. That approach, combined with up to 12 months of aging in both French and American oak, yields a wine with noticeably more structural depth than many competitors at its price point. Silver medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and California State Fair validate its quality across multiple vintages. For anyone seeking a dark-fruited, spice-accented red that overdelivers on complexity without demanding a special occasion, the Scarlet Label consistently fills that role.