Rustic — the Italian restaurant at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville — will close in December for a $2 million renovation. The winery expects the overhaul to take 90 to 120 days, with Rustic anticipated to reopen in spring 2027.
The closure, construction timeline, and reopening target were all reported by Sonoma Magazine, which notes that the renovation is part of a broader investment in the winery's hospitality program. Rustic has been a dining destination for locals and tourists alike, with a menu inspired by Coppola's favorite foods and his Italian heritage, according to the same report.
What's Changing Behind the Scenes
The winery's renovation plans go beyond the dining room. Updates are planned for the pool café, along with expanded private-event offerings and a refresh of the winery's movie memorabilia collection. The renovation is part of a broader investment in the winery's hospitality program.
Importantly, the tasting room and other winery experiences will remain open throughout construction, so the renovation won't shutter the entire property — just Rustic and its surrounding hospitality spaces. The winery has not disclosed how many Rustic employees will be affected by the closure, though the restaurant's shutdown will inevitably touch restaurant staff. No further details of the post-renovation dining experience have been announced.
A Winery That Changed Hands in 2021
Coppola sold his namesake winery to Napa-based Delicato Family Wines in 2021, a transition that has reshaped the property in the years since. That ownership context matters: in June 2025, Delicato eliminated at least a dozen positions at the winery, with most of the cuts affecting the Geyserville restaurant, according to two employees who were among those laid off.
A separate account from The Press Democrat detailed those 2025 cuts further, reporting that seven Rustic employees were laid off and that the restaurant planned to end dinner service while continuing lunch. Rustic employee Hollie Clausen told the paper that three maintenance employees and a housekeeper who had worked at the winery for 15 years were also let go. About a month before those layoffs, 15 employees were separately let go from Francis Ford Coppola Winery Too, the company's production facility in Geyserville, the paper reported.
The Press Democrat also cited Wine Business Monthly data showing Sonoma County tasting-room visitation declined 14 percent the previous year, a backdrop against which wineries across the region have been rethinking their hospitality offerings.
Rustic's Roots in Coppola's Own Recipes
Rustic's menu is inspired by Coppola's favorite foods and Italian heritage.
For now, Geyserville diners have a narrowing window to catch a meal at Rustic before the Italian restaurant goes dark for the winter and into next year. The tasting room, pool café, and other winery experiences will carry the Coppola name through the renovation, even as the restaurant that's anchored the property takes its construction-era pause.
