Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,827 strong:

Register Today!

Far Niente

Far Niente

Far Niente
1350 Acacia Drive
Oakville, California
USA 94562
Phone: (707) 944-2861
http://www.farniente.com

Contact: Dirk Hampson
Email: [email protected]

Far Niente was founded in 1885 by John Benson, a forty-niner of the California gold rush and uncle of the famous American impressionist painter, Winslow Homer. Benson hired architect Hamden McIntyre, creator of the former Christian Brothers winery – now the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone – to design the building. Constructed against a hillside in western Oakville, Far Niente functioned as a gravity flow winery, gently moving the grapes through each stage of production.

Far Niente prospered until the onset of Prohibition in 1919, when it was abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. Sixty years later, in 1979, Gil Nickel purchased the winery and adjacent vineyard and began a three-year restoration of the property. During restoration, the original name, Far Niente, from an Italian phrase that romantically translated means "without a care," was found carved in stone on the front of the building where it remains to this day. We felt an obligation to preserve the name with the hope that we could recapture a bygone era when life was indeed without a care.

The Far Niente winery is surrounded by 13 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, thought by many to be among the most stunning landscapes in the Napa Valley. Described as "southern" in style, with an emphasis on texture and foliage, the highlight of the Far Niente gardens is the more than 8,000 southern azaleas that bloom every spring, carpeting the estate in brilliant hues of bright red and deep pink. They are the largest single planting of this particular variety of azalea in California, and possibly throughout all of the west coast. At the height of bloom, colorful patches of azaleas are visible from nearly a mile away on Highway 29.

When John Benson built Far Niente in 1885, it was evident by the stone archway in the west wall of the cellar that wine caves were to be chiseled into the solid rock. Unfortunately, as a result of Mr. Benson's death and the forced closure brought on by Prohibition, these caves never materialized.

It was in 1980, one year after Far Niente was purchased by Gil Nickel, that Alf Burtleson was hired by Gil to dig a small 60-foot wine cave in the hill behind the winery. Little did the two men know at the time, that the Far Niente wine caves would become the first to be constructed in North America since the turn of the century, spawning a new industry in California wine country.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/farnientewinery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farnientewine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farnientewinery

Update Winery information  Submit new wines to be posted  Wineries of America

View all wines from Far Niente

Far Niente Chardonnay 2022
Far Niente Chardonnay 2022

Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.2%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2024‐2026

Charming Grilled Chicken Wine

 

LCBO: 539130  419 in stock

Far Niente Chardonnay 2014
Far Niente Chardonnay 2014

Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2016‐2021

Scrumptious Seafood Wine

 

LCBO: 539130  419 in stock

SAQ: 11056974  Check Stock

93/100

$105.00

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Oakville, Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.5%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2008‐2016

 

LCBO: 539098  Check Stock

95/100

$285.00

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Oakville, Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.5%  Sweetness: Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2018‐2028

Luscious Lamb Wine

 

LCBO: 539098  Check Stock

95/100

$285.00

Far Niente Chardonnay 2017
Far Niente Chardonnay 2017

Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.2%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2019‐2024

Scrumptious Seafood Wine

 

LCBO: 539130  419 in stock

SAQ: 11056974  Check Stock

93/100

$105.00

Far Niente Chardonnay 2015
Far Niente Chardonnay 2015

Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.3%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2017‐2022

Sensational Shellfish Wine

 

LCBO: 539130  419 in stock

SAQ: 11056974  Check Stock

93/100

$108.95

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Oakville, Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 13.7%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml

 

LCBO: 539098  Check Stock

$285.00

Far Niente Nickel & Nickel State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Far Niente Nickel & Nickel State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Yountville, Napa Valley, California, United States

Alcohol: 14.3%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml  Drink: 2014‐2025

 

LCBO: 430538  Check Stock

$201.00

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Far Niente Napa Vly 2018
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Far Niente Napa Vly 2018

California, United States

Alcohol: 14.5%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml

 

LCBO: 17721  Check Stock

$221.00

Far Niente #03 Cab Sauv Cave Collection (Far Niente) 2003
Far Niente #03 Cab Sauv Cave Collection (Far Niente) 2003

California, United States

Alcohol: 13.5%  Sweetness: Extra Dry  750 ml

 

LCBO: 231076  Check Stock

$154.00

View all wines from Far Niente

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Poggio al Tesoro Red Wine
2021,
Bolgheri, Tuscany D.O.C. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,827 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award