Far Niente is a historic winery located in Oakville, California that has a rich history dating back to 1885. It was founded by John Benson, a forty-niner of the California gold rush, and was initially an exquisite oasis in western Oakville. However, the onset of Prohibition in 1919 forced the winery to close its gates.
Sixty years later, Gil Nickel bought and restored the winery and neighboring vineyard, putting it back on the map and on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Far Niente is known as a benchmark producer of Napa Valley Chardonnay and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and is recognized as one of the world’s great wine estates.
In addition to its high-quality wines, Far Niente is also known for its beautiful 13-acre gardens, which feature an array of southern azaleas that bloom in the springtime and are set against a backdrop of towering redwoods, acacias, dogwoods, and century-old cork oak trees. The gardens were designed as a three-act play, with Acacia Drive leading to the winery gates and the Woodland Garden, and the winery itself serving as the final act.
The winery itself is a historic stone building that stands out for its beauty and grandeur. Despite plans to create extensive wine caves in the winery cellar in 1885, these caves never came to fruition due to Prohibition. However, Gil Nickel was determined to create a cave at Far Niente and hired an engineer to find out if there were any hidden caves beyond the rock wall. After a dynamite blast, it was determined that no caves existed. Undeterred, Gil pursued the construction of the first Far Niente Napa Valley wine caves, which would become the first to be built in North America since the turn of the century.
Over the next 20 years, the winery conducted four more expansions of the caves, bringing the total area to 40,000 square feet. The wine caves, which hold the winery’s collection of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vintages aged in 100% French oak, are known for their stunning beauty and attention to detail. They are a popular attraction for visitors from around the world.
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Daniel Hansen
in the last weekI have visited hundreds of wineries around the world and I have to say Far Niente Is among the very top wineries. A beautiful historic winery with great Chardonnay and Cabernet in Rutherford.We had wonderful host in Stephanie, Michael and Carol. Extremely knowledgeable and fun. Do not miss Far Niente. You will not be disappointed
Hunter Mulder
2 weeks agoI had the pleasure of visiting Far Niente Winery for my Epicurea luncheon, and it was truly an exceptional experience. Ta’rod was an amazing host—warm, engaging, and impressively knowledgeable, especially considering it was only his second day! He brought a fresh energy to the tasting and shared insights that even surprised our group of longtime members (10+ years!). None of us had ever noticed the hidden signature of the label artist before—what a fun and fascinating detail! This visit was a perfect blend of hospitality, education, and the classic elegance that Far Niente is known for. Bravo!
Ashley Franz
2 weeks agoA Truly Unforgettable Experience Visiting Far Niente for the first time felt like stepping into a wine fairytale. Growing up, Far Niente represented the gold standard of excellence in California wine, and finally visiting in person was a dream come true. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the affable Cynthia and a welcoming glass of Chardonnay--an elegant start to an unforgettable visit. Our private tour with Scott was nothing short of phenomenal. His attention to detail and personal touches elevated the entire experience. Scott masterfully blends history, chemistry, nuance, humor, and storytelling into a tour that is both educational and thoroughly entertaining. I found myself geeking out and giggling over every detail--I truly didn't want to leave! We’ll absolutely be returning for another tasting with Scott. Far Niente exceeded every expectation and left a lasting impression.
Lena Al-Rashed
a month agoGorgeous vineyard, but rushed tour. We did a Cave Collection Library Wine Tasting with Food Pairing. We enjoyed the food and wine pairings under the gazebo (so lovely) but felt that for the high cost our tour experience was rushed even after it started late. We were expecting more out of the tour than what we got.
Jay Kim
2 months agoIt truly was one of the best exquisite experiences that I ever had. We enjoyed beautiful sceneries with even more beautiful wines and all hosts were extremely welcoming. Our host Kurt was very knowledgeable and kind. I will certainly come back in a near future. Thank you!!!