How to Win Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s Pizza Contest
- Marla
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Ah, Pizza! This delicious, gooey food is one of the most popular dishes in the world.
So wouldn’t it be great to be rewarded for your best pizza recipe?
Francis Ford Coppola Winery thinks so. The Sonoma icon has launched its fifth annual “Perfect Your Pizza” contest, a nationwide search for the best pizza recipe and wine pairing.
This year’s winner will receive either $10,000 or a “Sip & Slice” screening room package, including a premium outdoor pizza oven, luxury wine fridge, wine glasses, movie projector, Coppola film collection, a $5,000 installation package, and a virtual pizza-making class with master pizzaiolo Dan Richer, who is the head judge.
A companion online sweepstakes will award an additional $15,000 in prizes.
To enter, submit your original homemade pizza recipe, pair it with the best wine from the winery’s Diamond Collection, and share the inspiration for the recipe. Details can be found on the winery’s website. It includes recipes from past winners, so you get a better idea of what the winery is seeking and a leg up on how to win Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s pizza contest.
The winery has also partnered with Slice Out Hunger, an organization dedicated to funding hunger relief using pizza.
The contest runs through September 30, 2026. The winning recipe will be announced on social media (@coppolawine) in October 2026.
This is a great way for chefs to be recognized for their cooking talents.
Wine With Our Family recently had the opportunity to catch up with Tim Bodell, the winery’s chef, to learn more about the contest and how to increase your chances of winning.
Wine With Our Family: Is the contest geared only to home chefs, or could a person who, say, worked at or owned a pizzeria/restaurant also participate?
Tim Bodell: We welcome both passionate home cooks and experienced pizza makers to enter. Whether you've spent years perfecting pizza in a professional kitchen or you're experimenting with recipes at home, we're excited to see your creativity. Because the contest is sponsored by a winery, alcohol beverage laws require us to exclude individuals who hold a license to sell alcohol, as well as employees of licensed alcohol retailers and restaurants. Beyond those requirements, the contest is open to anyone who loves pizza, wine, and creating memorable pairings, and we encourage people to share their perfect combination.
WWOF: Why pair only with the winery’s Diamond Collection wines?
TB: Coppola Diamond Collection wines reflect something we've always believed as a winery: wine is at its best when it's shared around the table with good food and good company. When Francis [Ford Coppola] created these wines, the goal was to make high-quality, everyday California wines that people could enjoy with family and friends, not just save for special occasions.
Pizza fits naturally into that same philosophy. It's one of those foods that brings people together, whether it's a casual weeknight dinner or a gathering with friends. As a chef, I've always thought some of the best meals are often the simplest: a great pizza, a bottle of wine, and a table full of people you enjoy spending time with. That's what makes this contest feel so authentic to us. It’s really about celebrating the connection between food, wine, and moments shared around the table.
WWOF: What are you looking for in a winner?
TB: I'm always drawn to entries that show intention, which doesn't necessarily mean the most complicated pizza. Sometimes the best dishes are the simplest ones when every ingredient has a purpose and works together.
I'm also looking for creativity, balance, and a wine pairing that feels thoughtful. I want to see how contestants approach the relationship between the pizza and the wine, and why they made those choices.
And I want to feel their enthusiasm! This contest is meant to be fun, and the entries that stand out are usually the ones that reflect someone's personality and passion for sharing good food and wine.
WWOF: The contest asks applicants to include the story behind their pizza creation. What is the winery looking for and why?
TB: The story is a big part of what makes food memorable. As chefs, we're often inspired by family traditions, local ingredients, travel experiences, or even a favorite meal we shared with someone. When reviewing entries, I want to understand what inspired the pizza and why it's important to the contestant. Maybe it's a recipe that's been passed down through generations, maybe it's inspired by a place they love, or maybe it's a completely new idea they've been excited to try. The more personal and authentic the story, the more it helps bring the pizza and wine pairing to life.
WWOF: What is the relationship between the contest and Slice Out Hunger?
TB: I've always believed food is about more than what's on the plate. It's about community, connection, and bringing people together. That's one of the reasons we're proud to be a second-year partner of Slice Out Hunger and support its mission of fighting food insecurity through the pizza community.
Through “Perfect Your Pizza,” we're able to celebrate great pizza while also helping shine a light on the important work Slice Out Hunger is doing. Since partnering, we’ve incorporated their mission into our retail, restaurant, and digital channels to help introduce more consumers to the organization and the impact it's making. We're also proud to support its signature annual program, the Summer Slice-a-thon, which brings together pizzerias, pizza lovers, and communities across the country to help fight food insecurity.
WWOF: Any advice for aspiring contestants?
TB: My biggest piece of advice is to make something you'd genuinely be excited to share with family and friends. Start with ingredients you love, trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to be creative.
We hope you enjoyed this interview with Tim Bodell, chef at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and consider submitting your pizza recipe to its Perfect Your Pizza contest. I can’t wait to learn who wins!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photos courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Winery.
What other innovative campaigns are wineries using to promote themselves and their communities? We’d love to hear about it. Send us a message at info@winewithourfamily.com.
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