Francis Ford Coppola Winery is offering a dream experience that will have pizza lovers and wine aficionados alike reaching for their rolling pins and corkscrews. The prize? A cross-country pizza and wine tasting tour by private jet.
Yes, you read that right. As part of its fourth annual Perfect Your Pizza contest, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery is elevating the pizza game like never before. This year’s grand prize offers one lucky contestant and their guest a fully hosted, private jet culinary journey to New York City and Chicago, where they’ll explore iconic pizzerias alongside two of the most respected pizza authorities in the country. Whether you’re a die-hard foodie in Manhattan or a wine-savvy epicurean in San Francisco, this is a prize worth perfecting your pizza for.
The Ultimate Culinary Crossover: Pizza Meets Wine in the Sky
Pairing pizza and wine is no longer a casual Friday night affair—it’s now the centerpiece of a national culinary competition, and it comes with VIP access, private tastings, and exclusive tours led by world-class experts.
This year, the winner of the Perfect Your Pizza contest will be whisked away on a private jet for a once-in-a-lifetime pizza and wine tasting tour by private jet, beginning in New York City with Scott Wiener of Scott’s Pizza Tours and continuing to Chicago with Steve Dolinsky, founder of Pizza City Fest and a 13-time James Beard Award™ winner.
“Pizza was an integral part of Francis Coppola’s vision for his winery from its beginnings,” said Gabriela Becker, Vice President of Marketing at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. “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.”
How to Enter the Perfect Your Pizza Contest
Submissions are open from July 1 to August 31, 2025, and entering is surprisingly simple:
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Create an original pizza recipe
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Select a Coppola wine to pair with it
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Share your inspiration story
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Submit everything at francisfordcoppolawinery.com/perfect-your-pizza
Four finalists will be chosen to attend a live cook-off in Sonoma County, California this October, hosted at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Finalists and their guests will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the estate, where they’ll cook for a panel of experts that includes:
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Dan Richer, globally recognized pizza master, James Beard Award™ finalist, and author of The Joy of Pizza
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Andrea Card, Coppola’s award-winning winemaker
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Plus, additional culinary and wine professionals
One finalist will win the grand prize—either the jet-fueled pizza tour or a $25,000 cash prize.
Meet the Judges: Legends in Crust and Cabernet
The contest isn’t just fun—it’s judged by some of the biggest names in the food and wine world.
Dan Richer – Chief Judge
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James Beard Award™ nominee
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Author of The Joy of Pizza
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Chef-owner of Razza, Jersey City’s acclaimed pizzeria
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Named Pizza Maker of the Year by Italy’s 50TopPizza
Scott Wiener – NYC Pizza Guru
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Host of Scott’s Pizza Tours
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Guinness World Record holder for largest pizza box collection
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Columnist for Pizza Today and host of Thrillist’s Really Dough
Steve Dolinsky – Chicago Deep-Dish Diplomat
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13-time James Beard Award™ winner
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Founder of Pizza City Tours and Pizza City Fest
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Author of The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide
Their combined expertise ensures the winner will be selected not just for flavor, but for culinary thoughtfulness and wine-pairing prowess.
Why This Contest Is a Slice Above the Rest
While other competitions might offer a trophy or a check, Perfect Your Pizza blends creativity, travel, and epicurean indulgence into a single, unforgettable journey.
Entrants have ranged from at-home chefs in Atlanta to culinary school grads in Los Angeles. Last year’s finalists included a firehouse cook, a Brooklyn pizzaiolo, and a retired wine consultant from Miami Beach—all united by their passion for pie and pour.
And let’s not forget the venue: the Francis Ford Coppola Winery estate in Sonoma County is an experience in itself. Beyond wine tastings, it features Rustic restaurant, two pools, and a museum-worthy collection of The Godfather film memorabilia.
Final Thoughts: Pizza, Pinot, and Private Jets
Whether you’re a pizza purist or an experimental epicurean, the Perfect Your Pizza contest is your ticket to something truly special. And with a pizza and wine tasting tour by private jet on the line, this isn’t just about toppings—it’s about legacy.
Ready to roll dough, pour wine, and maybe hop a jet with America’s top pizza minds? Then it’s time to heat up that oven and perfect your pie.
