Francis Ford Coppola Winery just gave pizza lovers the ultimate upgrade: a private jet pizza and wine tour across the U.S. That’s the grand prize in the winery’s fourth annual “Perfect Your Pizza” contest, and yes—it’s as epic as it sounds.
Submit your pie, pack your bags
The contest opened July 1 and runs through August 31. All you need to enter is an original pizza recipe, a Coppola Diamond Collection wine pairing, and the story behind your creation. If your slice and sip combo wins over the judges, you could be heading to pizza heaven in style.
Winners fly (and feast)
The grand prize includes a private plane tour of America’s top pizza cities—New York and Chicago. You’ll taste your way through the best slices in each city, guided by pizza royalty:
- Scott Wiener, pizza box collector and NYC slice expert
- Steve Dolinsky, James Beard winner and deep-dish guru
You’ll eat. You’ll drink. You’ll jet. Or you can choose $25,000 in cash if your style’s more stay-home-and-order-in.
A finalist feast in wine country
Before the grand prize is claimed, four finalists will get flown to Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma this October for a live cook-off. The showdown happens right in the heart of wine country, where finalists will bake for the crown in front of pizza royalty.
Who’s judging? Just the pizza elite:
- Dan Richer, chef-owner of Razza and author of The Joy of Pizza
- Andrea Card, Coppola’s head winemaker
- Guest judges with dough cred and wine know-how
The pizza’s got pedigree
This isn’t a stunt. It’s a pizza-powered celebration of craftsmanship.
“Pizza was an integral part of Francis Coppola’s vision for his winery from its beginnings. We’re excited for a fourth year of exploring and perfecting the pairing possibilities of pizza and wine, and of celebrating what great pizzas and great wine have in common: the ability to bring pleasure and connection through authenticity and craft.” Gabriela Becker, vice president of marketing for Francis Ford Coppola Winery.
For food brands and bulk ingredient suppliers, this contest hits a few key notes:
- Storytelling sells. The pizza recipe is only part of the contest—your why is just as important.
- Experience is everything. Consumers want food that feels fun, thoughtful, and connected.
- Premium pairings are trending. From truffle shavings to aged balsamic and vegan cheese, pizza is getting fancy—and wine’s along for the ride.
- Private label pizza? Huge. Retail-ready crusts, sauces, and toppings with room for creativity are in high demand.
Dates to know
- Contest opens: July 1, 2025
- Contest closes: August 31, 2025
- Finalist cook-off: October 2025 in Sonoma
- Grand prize: Private jet pizza tour OR $25,000 in cash
- Where to enter: francisfordcoppolawinery.com/perfect-your-pizza
Who should enter?
- Home pizza chefs with a flair for the unexpected
- Wine fans who’ve got pairing instincts
- Culinary creators who know a thing or two about crust chemistry
- Anyone who’s ever dreamed of flying for food
From jet fuel to pizza sauce
Coppola’s contest isn’t just buzzy—it’s a brilliant case study in how brands can build emotion, community, and serious flavor into a single campaign. This isn’t just a wine promo. It’s a full-on food experience. And for anyone in the ingredient world, it’s proof that products with personality—and purpose—go further.
Your turn to take a slice
Have a pizza idea that’s too good to gatekeep? Got a sauce that sings or a wine that wows with white pie? Now’s the time to submit. The “Perfect Your Pizza” contest is flying high, and your recipe could be next on the runway.
Need inspiration—or ingredients? We’re here to help. Whether you’re building out your own pizza brand, developing retail-ready crust kits, or launching a limited-edition pie + wine bundle, we’ve got the goods to support you. Let’s make your next product as crave-worthy as that cross-country slice tour.
