Our history was shaped by dreamers, doers, and craftsmen

John Benson, a real estate investor drawn to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, purchases a 216-acre farm in Oakville. Benson, likely influenced by his travels to Europe, names the ranch Far Niente, Italian for “the sweetness of doing nothing.” Already known as one of Napa Valley’s early grape growers, he plants 60,000 grapevines, making wine and cultivating Muscat of Alexandria for raisins and table grapes. His commitment to estate winemaking leads him to bring cork tree seeds from Europe, some of which still stand at Far Niente today.

Benson collaborates with Hamden McIntyre, a prominent winery architect of the era, to build a stone winery on a wooded knoll at Far Niente. Although construction is not yet complete, the first grapes are crushed on-site. Construction ends in 1886, and the winery becomes one of Napa Valley's first gravity-flow wineries, a design that exemplifies the ingenuity of the region’s early pioneers. The first official vintage is bottled that same year, with a label likely designed by Benson’s nephew, Winslow Homer, one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century.

At the end of the 19th century, John Benson loses much of his vineyards to the devastating phylloxera root louse. After surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, he moves permanently to Oakville when his Nob Hill home is destroyed by fire.

Benson passes away in 1910, leaving the Far Niente ranch to his nieces, Virginia W. Johnson and Josephine M. Johnson.

Neighbor David Perry Doak purchases Far Niente from Josephine M. Johnson. Doak, with plans to build a mansion and elaborate gardens on his adjoining property, shifts the ranch’s focus from grapevines to fruit trees. By 1921, Doak's combined properties, including the famous To Kalon vineyard, boast one of the largest cherry orchards in California.

When Prohibition ends in 1933, winemaking briefly returns to Far Niente before Doak’s widow sells the property following her daughter’s passing. Martin Stelling Jr., a San Francisco real estate magnate, acquires the historic Far Niente property along with the adjoining McGill Ranch.

H. Gilliland “Gil” Nickel is born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Harold and Rebecca Nickel, who own a landscape nursery.

A true visionary, Stelling dreams of creating the greatest fine wine vineyard in the world centered around Oakville. He purchases the neighboring To Kalon Ranch in 1943 and owns 5,000 acres of the best soils in Napa Valley, though chooses to keep a large portion of his land as preserved habitat. He removes the walnuts, cherries, plums, and other crops from the agricultural plots and replants grapevines, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon

Elizabeth K. “Beth” Yorman is born in the north woods of Wisconsin to Alex and Betty Yorman. The growing Yorman family relocates to Oklahoma and establishes a local landscape nursery.

In 1950, Martin Stelling Jr. dies in a car crash at age 47, leaving his vast vineyard properties to his wife, Caroline Bishop Stelling. Over time, she sells portions of the estate, including most of the To Kalon Vineyard, but retains Far Niente for her family. After her death in 1960, the remaining Stelling property, including Far Niente and its western vineyards, is placed in a trust for her children, Douglas and Cara.

In the late 1950s, Gil and Beth's families meet through business at Greenleaf Nursery Company in Oklahoma. After attending college, Gil moves to California to work as a guided missile analyst for the U.S. Navy but eventually returns to Oklahoma to help run Greenleaf with his older brother, John.

Gil Nickel owns a travel agency and helps run the family nursery. He begins traveling extensively, developing a deep appreciation for the food, wine, architecture, and lifestyle of Europe and the West Coast, particularly Northern California. Gil's interest in winemaking grows, leading him to consider returning to California to pursue this passion.

Gil begins studying winemaking at UC Davis, making his first wine in San Francisco and forming relationships with prestigious wineries in France. In 1979, Gil discovers the abandoned Far Niente Winery and persuades owner Doug Stelling to partner with him to revive it. Gil rents a space in Sausalito to produce the first vintage of Far Niente wine since Prohibition, the 1979 Chardonnay, and works with renowned winemakers to develop a distinctive house style.




That same year, Tom Rodrigues, a stained-glass artist friend who once designed a beautiful window in Gil’s San Francisco home, is asked if he’d like to enter a competition to design the Far Niente wine label. Tom’s design is chosen for Far Niente’s inaugural 1979 Chardonnay, including his extravagant, hand-drawn font for the Far Niente name. Tom goes on to design all Far Niente Wine Estates’ labels for four decades.

Builder Alf Burtleson excavates the first modern wine caves at Far Niente, setting a standard in Napa Valley for wine storage and aging. The restoration includes meticulous work by Italian stonemason Gene Domenichelli and landscape architect Jack Chandler, creating a blend of historic preservation and new southern-style gardens.

In 1981 Gil Nickel continues to build Far Niente’s legacy by importing Grand Cru Chardonnay cuttings from Burgundy, which become a cornerstone of the winery’s production. These clones continue to produce the elegant, notable Chardonnays produced by Far Niente Wine Estates today.

In 1983, Gil hires Larry Maguire to lead sales, marketing, and hospitality to the trade. While Gil is guiding the winery’s vision, Beth is supporting all efforts, Dirk is crafting great wines and assisting with design and innovations, and Larry is selling. Larry takes on the epic building of a brand and lays the groundwork for distribution in all markets across the United States and internationally. Larry’s effort to create relationships and build the brand in these early years is a cornerstone of the success of Far Niente.

During the late 1980s, Gil, Beth, Dirk, and Larry travel together to France, visiting top estates in Bordeaux and Burgundy. These trips deepen their understanding of consistency and house style, reinforcing Far Niente's philosophy of exceptionalism. They draw inspiration from the power and grace of First Growth Bordeaux wines and the texture and elegance of Grand Cru Burgundies, finding similarities in their young Far Niente wines. A pivotal 1989 trip influences a change in Far Niente's barrel-aging practices, laying the groundwork for future ventures like EnRoute Pinot Noir.

Eager to build upon Gil’s vision for Far Niente, Dirk makes Far Niente’s first late-harvest wine, modeled after the most notable dessert wine in the world, Château d’Yquem. Far Niente’s Dolce is a small-production blend of late-harvest Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that has been affected by botrytis cinerea, the beneficial fungi essential to crafting the world’s greatest sweet wines. Vintages are bottled in 1985 and 1986.

Gil brings back builder Alf Burtleson to expand Far Niente’s hillside caves. Dirk designs the new caves with intersecting tunnels forming a stunning circular layout, inspired by caves in Burgundy and Bordeaux. Plans include a wine library room, modeled after the Baptistery of Saint John in Florence, to store bottles from every vintage, further enriching the winery’s legacy.

Gil replants 17 acres of John’s Creek Vineyard in Coombsville from Merlot to Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. By 1991, Dolce is established as a separate micro-winery within Far Niente, complete with a striking label designed by Tom Rodrigues. Dolce becomes North America's only winery dedicated to producing a single late-harvest wine, earning a reputation as the Château d’Yquem of North America.

Gil Nickel makes Dirk Hampson and Larry Maguire partners, continuing a family tradition of shared ownership to maintain Far Niente’s commitment to excellence. In 1993, Ashley Heisey joins as an enologist, and Far Niente begins exploring the unique characteristics of individual vineyards. This leads to the bottling of their first and only Merlot vintages in 1993 and 1994, recognizing the vineyard's potential to stand on its own.

From 1995 to 1998, Far Niente completes its wine caves and winery buildings, adding two new caves and constructing a carved stone wine library with a central fountain inspired by Florence. The wine library preserves the winery's history, including an 1886 Far Niente vintage. A grotto is added near Gil and Beth’s home, paying homage to the ancient Bouchard Père et Fils caves in Burgundy.

After many years of love, wine, and travel, Gil and Beth are married in the winery gardens. Gil says, “I married the girl next door, but she lived 100 miles away.”

The Far Niente partners take the next step in applying their winemaking philosophy of quality, precision, passion, and style to a third wine label. They craft the first vintage of Nickel & Nickel, dedicated exclusively to producing 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines. Far Niente launches Nickel & Nickel, dedicated to producing 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines, with the first vintage featuring Merlot, Zinfandel, and four Cabernet Sauvignons.

Gil Nickel is diagnosed with malignant melanoma and begins treatment. The partners continue to focus on making only two wines at Far Niente, one for Dolce, and building the Nickel & Nickel brand while searching for a home for the winery. Dirk and Larry are the operating presidents of the wineries.

Dirk hires Darice Spinelli as winemaker for Nickel & Nickel. Darice learns the winemaking philosophy, is promoted to winemaker, and goes on to guide the winemaking at Nickel & Nickel for 20 years.

The historic Sullenger farmstead is acquired in 1999. The 42-acre farm features several buildings dating back to the 1800s, including an 1884 Victorian residence, allowing the Far Niente partners to continue their passion for restoration alongside fine winemaking. The purchase comes with a significant risk: there is no approved permit to build a winery.

Gil asks his nephew, Erik Nickel, to join the business. Erik relocates to Napa Valley and is appointed as the construction manager for the development of the Nickel & Nickel winery and farmstead.

Dirk hires Greg Allen, a former harvest intern, as Dolce's assistant winemaker. Greg continues the Far Niente winemaking tradition and is promoted to winemaker in 2001, guiding Dolce until his retirement in 2024. Stephanie Putnam joins as assistant winemaker at Far Niente, eventually becoming the winery's fourth winemaker after Ashley Heisey.

Far Niente shifts its Cabernet Sauvignon production to exclusively Oakville estate bottled, emphasizing quality.

Erik completes the final 10,000 square feet of wine caves at Far Niente before construction begins on Nickel & Nickel.

Dirk has a specific vision for creating a state-of-the-art winery within the Sullenger farmstead, including post-and-beam architecture with a nod to 19th-century California dairy barns. This project includes an expansive 30,000-square-foot underground barrel cellar inspired by a Gothic monastery in France that Dirk visited as a child. Due to Far Niente’s reputation for mindful restoration, collaboration with the community, and craftsmanship, the partners begin the process to secure the permit to build Nickel & Nickel Winery.

Erik and team secure use and building permits from Napa County, develop and modify initial designs with countless engineers and architects, hire contractors, and oversee construction. A powerful and professional home team, including design-build guidance from Dirk and partnership support from Gil, Beth, and Larry, bring this project to fruition. Like Far Niente, focus and care are placed on preserving historic buildings and adding modern winemaking facilities that blend naturally with the architecture and environment. Nickel & Nickel is planned as Far Niente’s first winery built to be open to the public, as tourism is growing in Napa Valley.

While pouring Nickel & Nickel wines at the Sun Valley Wine Festival, Gil and Beth learn of The Barn People in Vermont who are known for saving and restoring old structures. Gil, Beth, Erik, and Dirk fly to the East Coast to meet them and describe their vision for an early-period New England barn with hand-hewn posts and beams. Preserving and displaying this level of craftsmanship is essential to the Nickel & Nickel story. Soon, The Barn People discover an ailing hay barn in New Hampshire that dates back to 1770. It is selected to become part of the beautiful collection of historic buildings at the farmstead.

The thorough renovation of the barn is underway. Transported from New Hampshire and rebuilt piece-by-piece in Oakville by The Barn People, expert engineering is employed to bring the barn up to modern building code while keeping it open and airy inside. The Far Niente partners choose to name the addition The Gleason Barn, a tribute to the barn’s original owner. This approach to preserving history continues the tradition of namesakes such as Stelling Vineyard and Sullenger House. The Gleason Barn will house winemaker Darice Spinelli, a laboratory for the assistant winemaker Andrew Delos; viticulturist Aaron Fishleder; Erik’s office as General Manager; and the cellar crew headquarters.

In 2003, Nickel & Nickel Winery opens to the public in July, marking the first time a Far Niente Wine Estate is accessible to visitors. Gil and Beth attend the grand opening, witnessing the near completion of their vision for the winery. Sadly, this event is one of the last opportunities for friends and colleagues to say goodbye to Gil, who receives the inaugural Courage Award from The V Foundation for Cancer Research before passing away in October at age 64.

In December, the 1884 Sullenger House, after a meticulous three-year renovation, opens to the public, preserving its Victorian charm. Tastings are held in the dining salon and on the porch overlooking the estate vineyard and gardens.

On its 25th anniversary, Far Niente opens to the public for tours and tastings, after hosting only the wine trade for two decades. The historic building, lush gardens, and storied caves offer guests a glimpse into both the history of Napa Valley and the legacy of one of America’s most iconic wine estates.

The UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (JCCF) introduces the Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award, which was awarded to him posthumously. The award has been given every year since 2004 to those touched and affected by cancer who contribute to humanitarian causes. Beth raises $1,000,000 in Gil’s honor to fund the Gil Nickel Fellowship at JCCF.

To continue Gil’s vision, Erik moves to the Far Niente offices and is later appointed President of Far Niente Vineyards. He now oversees the family’s properties and vineyards.

Dirk mentors the next generation of winemakers at Far Niente. Andrew Delos joins as assistant winemaker to Darice Spinelli for Nickel & Nickel in 2004.
Nicole Marchesi joins Far Niente as enologist in 2005 and is promoted soon thereafter to assistant winemaker under Stephanie Putnam. In 2009, Nicole becomes only the fifth winemaker in the modern history of Far Niente.

Shortly after the construction of Nickel & Nickel is complete, Erik collaborates with Mark Beringer to bring The V Foundation Wine Celebration to Nickel & Nickel. Since 2003, Beth has deepened her partnership and commitment to the V Foundation, raising millions each year to support the mission of funding ground-breaking cancer research. The V Foundation Wine Celebration weekend events continue to be hosted at Nickel & Nickel every year.

Beth Nickel receives the V Foundation Wine Celebration Humanitarian Award for her unwavering dedication and support over the past 25 years. Place image of Beth from 2023 receiving the award.

Dirk and Erik discover an old apple orchard in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, ideal for Burgundian varieties. They purchase the property, plant grapevines, and create EnRoute, a new brand focused on Pinot Noir. The inaugural EnRoute wine, "Les Pommiers," is released in 2007, blending the best vineyard blocks to craft a Pinot Noir inspired by Burgundy's great wines.

Andrew, after three years as assistant winemaker at Nickel & Nickel, is promoted and becomes EnRoute's winemaker.

In an effort to decrease the usage of non-renewable energy, the vision of Far Niente partners and winemaker Greg Allen’s engineering prowess combine to install the world’s first Floatovoltaic™ solar-electric array on Far Niente’s vineyard pond.

That same year, Nickel & Nickel completes its south fermentation barn, designed in the style of 19th-century California post-and-beam construction.

Far Niente partners lease an exceptional vineyard in Rutherford's AVA, along with a small winery on Bella Oaks Lane. The site’s historical name, "Bella Union Roadway," inspires the creation of the Bella Union brand, Far Niente's first opportunity in Rutherford, allowing them to further explore the artistry of blending in winemaking.

GI Partners, a private equity firm, joins Far Niente in 2016 and becomes the managing partner in the Far Niente Wine Estates. They share the Far Niente partners’ vision of exceptionalism and stewardship in all things.

Far Niente Wine Estates deepens its commitment to Rutherford by purchasing a 60-acre vineyard primarily for Bella Union, with a portion reserved for Nickel & Nickel’s single-vineyard program. Far Niente also reintroduces a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, capturing the essence of their top vineyards throughout Napa Valley.

A new generation of winemakers emerges at Far Niente Wine Estates, with Andrew Delos promoted to director of winemaking, Joe Harden becoming the third winemaker at Nickel & Nickel, and Brooke Bobyak Price joining as assistant winemaker. Meanwhile, Larry Maguire and Dirk Hampson retire, and Steven Spadarotto becomes the new CEO.

Far Niente Wine Estates introduces Post & Beam, using time-honored techniques to make exceptional wines that can be enjoyed upon release, the Cabernet and Chardonnay seamlessly unite tradition and modernity.

Far Niente deepens its commitment to excellence by appointing John McCarthy as director of vineyard operations and collaborating with renowned consultants like Thomas Rivers Brown and Garrett Buckland on projects including vineyard replanting and climate-smart farming.

The company also purchases a 60-acre estate in Rutherford for Bella Union, acquires the Grand Sky Vineyard in Carneros for cool-climate grapes, and achieves Napa Green Certified Winery status.

In keeping with Far Niente’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, Apax Partners invests in Far Niente Wine Estates. Kate McManus, Vice President of Marketing, is brought on to elevate the wineries’ consumer presence, and the Bale Slough restoration project begins at Bella Union estate vineyards.

Far Niente debuts the 2021 Far Niente Benson Vale Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Benson Vale pays tribute to visionary pioneer John Benson, who founded the Oakville estate in 1885, and Far Niente’s unyielding commitment to crafting wines that are enduring benchmarks of Napa Valley’s finest. Far Niente winemaker Nicole Marchesi crafts the wine in collaboration with renowned consultant Thomas Rivers Brown from the best-of-the-best blocks found at Stelling Vineyard.

Bella Union Winery in Rutherford opens in Sept of 2024. Building upon Far Niente’s storied winemaking legacy dating back to 1979, the winery joins the historic Far Niente Winery and iconic Nickel & Nickel Winery as the third physical Napa venue, further establishing Far Niente Wine Estates’ deep roots and commanding presence in Napa Valley and reflects its dedication to crafting exquisite wines from the finest sub-appellations in the valley, paired with gracious hospitality and a sense of place. Bella Union was also founded on the key principle set by Gil Nickel of continuous improvement and innovation–something that is reflected in the new winery opening and leans into both the time-honored traditions and notable approach to winemaking that Far Niente established over the more than four decades, while also celebrating evolution and an openness to push boundaries.