Without a Care

Winery Events for 2013

The new year isn’t quite here yet, but we’ve already planned a selection of wonderful events at both Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wineries. Take a look at the events below, and mark your calendars. We’ll have more information about each event as the dates approach. We hope to see you! 

Cabernet Release Day at Far Niente

February 2: Be the first to taste and acquire the 2010 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon! You will also have the opportunity to taste aged treasures from Cave Collection and preview our 2011 Cabernet with Winemaker Nicole Marchesi.

By appointment: (707) 944-2861, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Nickel & Nickel Open House

February 2: Indulge in an array of our specially selected single-vineyard wines. Enjoy current releases, along with tastes of aged Cabernets and a sneak peak of our spring release wines.

By appointment: (707) 967-9600, 10:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.

Futures Barrel Tasting at Nickel & Nickel

May 18: Preview our 2012 Single-Vineyard Cabernets from this bountiful and delicious vintage and reserve your favorite wines at special futures pricing.

By appointment: (707) 967-9600, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bacchanalia at Nickel & Nickel

June 15: Join us in the Barrel Cellar for a sumptuous celebration of food and wine. You will partake in a multi-course feast paired with a gorgeous selection of our single-vineyard wines. Seating is limited.

By appointment: (707) 967-9600, 6:00 p.m.

Cabernet Release Day at Nickel & Nickel

August 10: Celebrate the release of our 2010 Single-Vineyard Cabernets! Be the first to taste these wines, and take home your favorites from our newest vintage.

By appointment: (707) 967-9600, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Far Niente Chardonnay Celebration

August 10: Relax beneath the cork oaks with tastes of current and past vintages of Far Niente Chardonnay paired with bites from the kitchen.

By appointment: (707) 944-2861, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Harvest Party at Nickel & Nickel

September 28: Join us in the Gleason Barn for a celebration of the harvest season, complete with behind-the-scenes harvest tours, wine and paired bites.

By appointment: (707) 967-9600

Holiday Reception at Far Niente:

December 7: Toast the holidays with us at Far Niente and enjoy the music and culinary treats of the season, along with current and past vintages of Far Niente and Dolce.

By appointment: (707) 944-2861, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Tags: 2013 Events, Cabernet Release Day, Cabernet Wine Club, Chardonnay Celebration, Napa Events, Napa Wine Club, Napa Winery

Holiday Sweets

Still have pumpkins on your porch? Chop one up, drizzle with olive oil and bake, covered, for 2 hours at 350˚F, or until super tender. Scrape the pumpkin flesh from the skin and purée. If you see liquid coming out of the purée, just dry it out in a 300˚F oven for 10-20 minutes on a sheet pan. We used sugar pie pumpkins from a local farm for our recipe, but by all means, keep life simple and open a can of pumpkin purée. This traditional dessert pairs magnificently with the complex sweetness of Dolce and will help you savor every sip.

Click here for a printable pdf. 

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Executive Chef Trevor Eliason

Pair with 2007 Dolce, Napa Valley

Ingredients:

Crust

3 ounces graham crackers {getting measure equivalents from Trevor}

1 ounce slivered almonds {ditto}

1 tablespoon sugar

4 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling

24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

15-ounce can puréed pumpkin (or homemade pumpkin purée)

3 whole eggs

1 egg yolk

¼ cup sour cream

1 ½ cups sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

1/8 teaspoon clove, ground

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Place graham crackers, almonds and sugar in a food processor bowl and pulse until finely chopped. Add melted butter and combine. Press graham cracker mixture into 9-inch spring form pan. Bake for 7 minutes.

For the filling, you will need an electric mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat the cream cheese until smooth, scrape down the sides, then add the pumpkin purée and combine. Add the eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices, then add the flour and the vanilla. Beat together until well mixed. Pour into the crust, spread out evenly and place in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 3 hours before serving.

Slice and serve with a glass of 2007 Dolce. 

Click here for a printable pdf.

Tags: Holiday, Napa Valley Wine, Napa Valley Winery, Napa Valley Winery Events, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Recipe, Trevor Eliason, Wine Pairing

Far Niente and the Champs

Some things never change – and I mean that in the best possible way. Civilization has been coming together over wine for millennia and the tradition lives on today. Although I’ve been involved in the wine business for more than 30 years, I continue to be amazed at the people I meet over a glass of Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet.

I spent the earlier part of this week golfing in the pro-am for the Tiger Woods World Challenge, which raises money for the Tiger Woods Learning Center, and which Far Niente has supported for several years. Those of us who played came together over our mutual respect for the work Tiger has done through the foundation, golf and great food and wine. My playing partner on Tuesday was boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. Sugar Ray mesmerized us with his stories of his early days of boxing, his love of Howard Cosell, and his decision to come out of retirement to fight "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" in one of boxing's most historic bouts. It was surreal to hear these legendary stories from the mouth of the legend. Sugar would then step up with his three wood and rocket the ball 250 yards. His human side was also very much on display when he'd step up the next time, chunk it 10 yards and laugh at himself. Sugar Ray loves golf but, like me, he has a long way to go to master it. I loved hearing him talk to himself before hitting the ball. "Be the ball," he'd say. A reference to the Zen nature of golf. I had to chuckle at the thought of being a ball that Sugar Ray Leonard was just getting ready to hit.

I was paired Wednesday with a great of another kind, 2010 US Open Champ Graeme McDowell. It didn't take more than one swing to appreciate why this Irishman won the Open. He'd casually step up to ball after we asked him to lead the way. He'd knock it two feet from the pin, step back and say, "Just like that boys." A more affable man you've never met. Graeme instantly seemed comfortable with everyone around him and everyone felt his genuine warmth. Of course it was easy for me to be comfortable with Graeme as we had spent two hours together at the winery last summer following the US Open at The Olympic Club. A greater lover of Napa Cabernet would be hard to find. That instantly put me in good stead with Graeme.

Graeme’s preparing to open a restaurant in Orlando. I gave him plenty of advice on building his wine list, and he reciprocated with tips to improve my game. I suspect the wine knowledge will stay with him longer and better than his golf expertise will stick with me.  But I’m willing to keep trying, and keep making new friends through wine.

Tags: Golf, Graeme McDowell, Larry Maguire, Napa Cabernet, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tiger Woods World Challenge

Live in the Vineyard at Far Niente

There’s a bi-annual gathering in the Napa Valley called Live in the Vineyard, which treats a number of lucky radio listeners to a weekend of live music by both emerging and well-established musical acts. The event also attracts the recording and movie industries to the valley for the weekend, and the musicians get to perform for these influential executives in private settings. 

A love for music is part of our DNA here at the winery, and earlier this month, Far Niente hosted an afternoon of exclusive performances and a lunch pairing Chef Trevor’s menu with our Napa Valley Cabernet and Chardonnay. The Round Room in the wine caves was the perfect setting for an intimate, acoustic presentation by third-place American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart. The smoky voice of this young singer-songwriter, who loves singing rock and R&B, emanated through the caves, seeming to smoothly envelop the barrels and fill any empty space. 

Haley Reinhart performed in the Far Niente Round Room (Photo Credit: Bill Van Ess)

Next, we were treated to a guitar and vocal performance in the Cave Library by Sebastian Mikael, a new artist recently signed to a label associated with Epic Records. The 24-year-old Berklee College of Music grad meshes elements of rock, R&B, pop and electronic music is currently working on his debut album.

If you’d like to have a chance at being one of the lucky few who get to attend the whole weekend’s worth of music, check out the LITV web site.

Update: Here are a few more great pics from the performances:

 

Sebastian Mikael performs in the Far Niente Cave Library

Following the performances, a delicious lunch in the Far Niente Great Hall

All photos copyright Bill Van Ess

Tags: Haley Reinhart, Live in the Vineyard, Napa Cabernet, Napa Chardonnay, Napa Events, Sebastian Mikael

Dolce Far Niente for Your Thanksgiving

We have a lot to be thankful for this year: a terrific, bountiful harvest comes immediately to mind, but we are also thankful for the fantastic people who continually come into our lives by virtue of enjoying the Chardonnay and Cabernet we produce. We couldn’t ask for a better group of friends and fans.

Here’s to a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday—may you have a little “Dolce Far Niente” in your life, and in your glass.

Tags: Thanksgiving