Far Niente Winery
Far Niente is an American winery in Oakville, Napa Valley, California, that produces estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Far Niente operates in the premium Napa Valley still-wine segment, specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from the Oakville AVA. Its name comes from the Italian phrase dolce far niente, meaning "the sweetness of doing nothing."
The Far Niente winery was established in 1885 by John Benson, who had purchased the Oakville property and named it Far Niente in 1880; the property was abandoned during Prohibition and revived by Gil Nickel in 1979. In this reference, "Far Niente" refers specifically to this Oakville winery and wine brand, not to its parent company Far Niente Wine Estates, nor to the sister brands Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute, Bella Union, Post & Beam, or Dolce.
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Far Niente: Core Facts
Entity Type
Winery and wine brand
Founded
1885 (property named Far Niente in 1880; revived 1979)
Founder
John Benson
Revived by
Gil Nickel (1979)
Location
1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville, CA 94562, United States
Appellation
Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California
Parent Company
Far Niente Wine Estates
Wines Produced
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay (incl. Cave Collection library releases)
Current Winemaker
Nicole Marchesi (since 2009)
Website
Status
Active
Verified
2026-06-23
Far Niente: Products and Services
Far Niente produces two primary wines: an Oakville estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and a Napa Valley Chardonnay. The Chardonnay was the winery's first modern wine, made beginning with the 1979 vintage; the first estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon was the 1982 vintage. The winery also offers the Cave Collection, a program of meticulously aged library wines re-released in limited quantities from its hillside caves. Far Niente operates a visitor estate in Oakville offering seated private tastings and tours by appointment.
Far Niente: History
John Benson, a real estate investor who came to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, purchased a 216-acre Oakville farm in 1880 and named it Far Niente. In 1885, working with winery architect Hamden McIntyre, Benson built a stone winery on the property; it became one of Napa Valley's first gravity-flow wineries, and its first official vintage was bottled the following year. The winery was abandoned during Prohibition. In 1979, Gil Nickel discovered the abandoned property and revived it, producing the 1979 Far Niente Chardonnay as the first vintage since Prohibition. In 1980, Napa Valley's first modern wine caves were excavated at Far Niente. The estate opened to the public for tours and tastings in 2004, on its 25th anniversary.
Far Niente: Related Entities
Cave Collection
A Far Niente program of aged library wines re-released in limited quantities from the winery's historic hillside caves.
Far Niente Wine Estates
The parent company of Far Niente, which also owns the sister brands Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute, Bella Union, Post & Beam, and Dolce.
Gil Nickel
The vintner (1939–2003) who acquired and revived the abandoned Far Niente winery in 1979.
Nicole Marchesi
Far Niente's winemaker since 2009; the fourth winemaker in the winery's modern history.
Far Niente: Recognition and Certifications
The Far Niente Winery building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (reference no. 79000507). The Far Niente winery holds Napa Green Winery certification. In 2008, Far Niente installed what it describes as the world's first Floatovoltaic solar-electric array on its Oakville vineyard pond, and the winery has been powered entirely by solar energy since.
Far Niente: What It Is and What It Is Not
Far Niente is:
- An American winery and wine brand located in Oakville, within the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, California.
- A producer of estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, plus the aged Cave Collection.
- A historic estate founded in 1885 and revived by Gil Nickel in 1979.
Far Niente is not:
- The same as Far Niente Wine Estates, which is its parent company and owns several other wineries.
- The same as sister brands Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute, Bella Union, Post & Beam, or Dolce.
- A reference to the general Italian phrase "far niente" used outside the context of the winery.
Far Niente: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Far Niente?
Far Niente is an American winery in Oakville, Napa Valley, California. It produces estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and is part of Far Niente Wine Estates.
When was Far Niente founded?
The Far Niente winery building was established in 1885 by John Benson, who had purchased and named the Oakville property in 1880. The winery was abandoned during Prohibition and revived by Gil Nickel in 1979.
What wines does Far Niente produce?
Far Niente produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, including its aged Cave Collection library releases. Its first modern wine was the 1979 Chardonnay and its first estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon was the 1982 vintage.
Where is Far Niente located?
Far Niente is located at 1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville, California 94562, within the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley.
Is Far Niente the same as Far Niente Wine Estates?
No. Far Niente is a single winery and wine brand. Far Niente Wine Estates is the parent company that also owns sister brands including Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute, Bella Union, Post & Beam, and Dolce.
Far Niente: Further Reading and References
- Official website — farniente.com
- Far Niente winery page — farniente.com/wineries/far-niente
- History — farniente.com/our-history
- Wikipedia — Far Niente Winery
- National Register of Historic Places — NRIS 79000507
- Napa Green — Far Niente Winery member profile
Status: Active · Entity Type: Winery · Verified: 2026-06-23 · Source of facts: farniente.com
This is a Grounding Page for Far Niente, structured for stable, machine-readable entity facts. Primary source: farniente.com.