General FAQs
Please check our answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you need further assistance, our team would love to hear from you! Call or text (707) 302-3635 or email us at info@farniente.com.
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Please check our answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you need further assistance, our team would love to hear from you! Call or text (707) 302-3635 or email us at info@farniente.com.
The House of Far Niente is a family of distinguished Napa Valley wineries built on the philosophy of "il dolce far niente," the sweetness of doing nothing. Anchored by the iconic Far Niente estate in Oakville, the house brings together six wineries devoted to elegant, terroir-driven wines and gracious hospitality. Every pour reflects a shared commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and the timeless pleasure of slowing down in the heart of Napa Valley.
Far Niente Wine Estates is a family of six wineries: Far Niente, known for Oakville Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon; Nickel & Nickel, devoted to single-vineyard, single-varietal wines; Bella Union, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon house; Post & Beam; EnRoute, exploring Sonoma County Pinot Noir; and Dolce, our celebrated late-harvest dessert wine. Together they form one of Napa Valley's most distinguished portfolios, each brand offering its own expression of place and craft.
Far Niente takes its name from the Italian expression "il dolce far niente," meaning "the sweetness of doing nothing." The name was chosen in 1885 by founder John Benson, and it has guided the estate ever since: the belief that life's finest moments are savored slowly, without hurry. That sensibility lives in every Far Niente wine and every visit to our Napa Valley estates, an invitation to pause, gather with those you love, and simply be.
Far Niente's story begins in 1885, when John Benson, a real estate investor drawn to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, acquired a 216-acre farm in Oakville and named it Far Niente. The modern Far Niente winery was founded in 1984, when Gil Nickel restored the historic property and reestablished it as a benchmark for Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today the estate honors both chapters of that legacy in every bottle.
The Far Niente name dates to 1885, when John Benson established the original Oakville estate, planted 60,000 grapevines, and cultivated Muscat of Alexandria alongside his wine. Drawn to estate winemaking, he even carried cork tree seeds from Europe, some of which still stand on the property today. After decades of dormancy, Gil Nickel restored the historic estate and founded the modern Far Niente winery in 1984, connecting every wine to more than a century of Napa Valley heritage.
The Far Niente estate sits in Oakville, in the heart of Napa Valley, at 1350 Acacia Drive. The broader Far Niente Wine Estates family spans historic properties across Napa Valley and into Sonoma County. Oakville is among Napa's most revered growing regions, prized for the warm days and cool nights that give our Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay their depth, balance, and remarkable capacity to age gracefully in the cellar.
Yes! Three of our estate’s welcome guests: Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel in Oakville, and Bella Union. Each offers a seated, hospitality-forward experience among the vineyards, historic caves, and gardens that define the House of Far Niente. Whether you prefer an intimate private tasting or a leisurely tour, a visit is the finest way to experience the artistry and warmth behind our Napa Valley wines.
Reservations are recommended for all tasting experiences so we can offer the unhurried, personal welcome our guests expect. You may book online, call our reservations team at (707) 754-4544, or email reservations@farniente.com. Planning ahead ensures your preferred date, time, and experience are available, and allows us to tailor your visit to the wines and estates you most wish to explore across the House of Far Niente.
Our Napa Valley estates offer a range of seated experiences. At Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel, guests may choose a Tour & Tasting, a Private Tasting, or the Member Lounge. At Bella Union, enjoy the Taste of Bella or a Curated Selection. Each experience pairs our acclaimed wines with the gracious hospitality that has defined Far Niente since its founding. Reserve online or through our reservations team to secure your visit.
Yes. The House of Far Niente hosts private events amid the vineyards, historic caves, and gardens of our Napa Valley estates, from intimate celebrations to distinctive corporate gatherings. Our team will help craft an occasion around our wines and settings. To begin planning, visit the Private Events page on our website or contact us directly, and we will design an experience worthy of the moment you wish to mark.
Across our family of wineries, we craft some of Napa Valley's most celebrated wines: estate Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Far Niente in Oakville, single-vineyard and single-varietal bottlings from Nickel & Nickel, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Bella Union, Sonoma County Pinot Noir from EnRoute, and Dolce, our renowned late-harvest dessert wine. Each wine expresses a distinct sense of place while sharing the house's devotion to elegance and balance.
Store your wines on their side in a cool, dark place at a steady temperature, ideally around 55°F, away from light and vibration. Serve Far Niente Chardonnay lightly chilled and Cabernet Sauvignon at cool room temperature, decanting younger reds to let them open. Dolce is loveliest slightly chilled. Thoughtful storage preserves the balance, complexity, and longevity that define House of Far Niente wines from first pour to last.
Our Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon from Far Niente and the single-vineyard wines of Nickel & Nickel are built for the cellar, often rewarding a decade or more of patient aging. Far Niente Chardonnay also ages gracefully beyond its release, and Dolce can evolve beautifully for many years. Proper storage is essential. When in doubt, our team is glad to share suggested drinking windows for specific vintages in the House of Far Niente.
Dolce is the House of Far Niente's celebrated late-harvest dessert wine, an estate dedicated entirely to this singular style. Golden, luscious, and elegantly balanced, it is crafted from botrytis-affected grapes and offered in a 375ml bottle meant for savoring. Dolce shines alongside blue cheeses, foie gras, and fruit-forward desserts, and it is exquisite on its own, poured slowly and shared with someone you love.
The finest way to purchase our wines is directly from us, online or at the winery, where the full range and library selections are available. To find our wines at retailers and restaurants near you, use the wine locator on our website. Wine club members enjoy first access to limited releases and member-only bottlings, among the most sought-after wines in the House of Far Niente.
We ship to states where our wineries are licensed to deliver. Because alcohol shipping laws vary, available destinations may change, and some states cannot be served. At checkout you will see whether we can ship to your address, and our team is happy to confirm. For guests beyond our shipping range, the wine locator on our website can help you find House of Far Niente wines at retailers and restaurants near you.
We maintain two shipping locations so that members in most cities receive their wines within two to three days by ground shipping. Every order is prepared with great care to arrive safely and promptly, and your confirmation includes the details of your delivery. For time-sensitive gifts or events, please plan ahead, and our wine club team can advise on the best timing for your House of Far Niente wines.
To protect the wines, we may place shipments on a weather hold during periods of extreme heat or cold. In warmer states and seasons, we also offer expedited shipping with ice packs at an additional cost. These measures ensure every bottle arrives in the condition our winemakers intended. If weather affects your shipment, we will keep you informed and release it as soon as conditions allow.
Ground shipping is complimentary on wine club orders of 12 or more bottles, and select clubs include complimentary ground shipping on smaller orders. Tenure benefits add complimentary shipping as you continue your membership. Any applicable shipping, handling, and tax are shown at checkout before you confirm. Our wine club team can walk you through the shipping benefits tied to your particular club and membership tenure.
By law, an adult 21 or older must be present to sign for every wine delivery, as wine cannot be left unattended. We recommend shipping to an address where someone will be available during the day, such as a workplace, to ensure a smooth handoff. If a delivery attempt is missed, the carrier will typically try again, and our team is glad to help coordinate a convenient time.
If you need further assistance, our team would love to hear from you! Call or text (707) 302-3635 or email us at info@farniente.com.