Dan Richer, one of the all-time great American pizzaiolos, is presiding over the fifth annual “Perfect Your Pizza” competition from Francis Ford Coppola Winery this summer.
The contest is a nationwide search for what the winery calls “America’s best pizza recipe and wine pairing,” with Richer as the head judge and program spokesperson.
The winner receives a grand prize package of either $10,000 in cash or the “Sip & Slice Package,” which will transform their home into the ultimate pizza-wine-and-movie destination, complete with a premium outdoor pizza oven, luxury wine fridge, elegant wine glasses, a movie projector, a collection of Coppola’s films, a $5,000 installation package and a virtual pizza-making class.
In addition to the recipe contest, a companion online sweepstakes—open now through September 30—will award $15,000 in prizes for a total “Perfect Your Pizza” prize pool of $25,000.
Now in its fifth year, the winery’s “Perfect Your Pizza” contest has become an annual tradition. Each year, passionate home cooks and pizza lovers across the country submit their best original pizza recipes and Coppola wine pairings, celebrating the creativity behind the perfect match. Last year’s winner, Emily Jenkins, wowed the judges with a her Fire and Pine pizza featuring pepperoni, pine nut chili crisp and stracciatella paired with Coppola Winery’s Diamond Claret.
Richer, meanwhile, is the master pizzaiolo and owner behind Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City—the only pizza restaurant in the U.S. to receive three stars from The New York Times. He’s also a six-time James Beard Award nominee and the New York Times-bestselling author of The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know.
Richer’s expertise is complemented by Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s in-house culinary and winemaking talent that gives the program its soul: Executive Chef Tim Bodell, whose philosophy shapes the winery’s food inspiration, and winemaker Andrea Card, whose Coppola wines form the backbone behind each pairing contestants are challenged to create.
“At Coppola, pizza isn’t just a menu item—it’s a reflection of how we bring people together around wine,” said Gabriela Becker, VP of marketing for Francis Ford Coppola Winery. “As we enter year five of ‘Perfect Your Pizza,’ we’re proud to keep leaning into that culinary heritage. With Dan returning to lead the judging, more experiential prizes and our continued partnership with Slice Out Hunger, this contest reflects what we value most. It’s about celebrating great wine worth gathering over, championing artisanal pizza, and giving back to our communities in a way that truly connects us.”
