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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Greta
in the last weekIndulging in the unparalleled charm of Napa Valley, our visit to Far Niente Winery surpassed all expectations. From the meticulously groomed grounds serving as a picturesque setting to the awe-inspiring depths of Far Niente's caves, every facet of our experience took our breath away. Our host/guide Eric was absolutely wonderful. He guided us through the winery's labyrinth of cellars and underground caves and was incredibly knowledgeable and patient as he answered all our questions (we had a lot!). Eric tailored the tour to our interests, ensuring a leisurely pace that allowed us to savor each moment without feeling hurried. We booked the food pairing with our wine tasting and we were blown away. The personalized menus were a nice touch and the duck pate with mostarda was one of the highlights of our entire trip. However, it was the exceptional quality of the wine itself that truly captivated us. The sampling compelled us to purchase multiple bottles on the spot, including a birth year vintage for a special occasion. Despite the rarity of my desired vintage on-site, Far Niente's unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction shone through as they graciously offered to ship it alongside our other selections, free of charge. In sum, our time at Far Niente Winery proved to be an unforgettable and unparalleled experience.
Wei-Ai Tai
a month agoGorgeous Napa winery with a storybook-like setting. Beautifully manicure grounds with an impressive selection of Cabernet and Chardonnay and other varietals. The full tour of the winery is highly recommended, as there is a rich history behind this winery!
Marinka Official
a month agoFar Niente Winery is a beautiful place in Napa Valley, California. It has pretty vineyards and nice buildings. The wine they make there is really tasty, and visiting feels like stepping into a fairy tale.
Gio C
6 months agoWhat a fantastic experience! Our family member who lives close by has a wine club membership here and scheduled our tour and tasting. The scenery and entry is stunning. Michael was very experienced and did an extraordinary job as our guide defining the processes used and detailed tour. We couldn’t resist to purchase several bottles after the tasting. Highly recommended! Make sure to get your reservations well in advance. Enjoy! 🤙🏻🍷
Roxanna Ramirez
a month agoThis has been my favorite wine for as long as I can remember, so doing a private tasting/tour for our anniversary, was a dream come true! The grounds are beautiful and our guide Michael, was fantastic! Best place to visit in Napa.