Far Niente

Far Niente Wine Tasting Event: Far Niente’s story began in 1885, when entrepreneur and gold miner John Benson established the winery in Oakville in the heart of Napa Valley. The historic stone winery was designed by architect Hamden McIntyre, whose work helped define some of California’s early wine estates. Its name, Far Niente, comes from the Italian phrase dolce far niente—“the sweetness of doing nothing”—a philosophy that has remained closely tied to the estate’s identity.

Like many American wineries, Far Niente was profoundly affected by Prohibition, and the winery eventually fell into decades of disuse. Nearly a century after its founding, Gil Nickel purchased the property in 1979 and began an extensive restoration of the historic estate. Far Niente officially returned to winemaking with the 1982 harvest, beginning a new chapter while preserving the character and history of the original winery.

Far Niente became particularly recognized for its dedication to Napa Valley Cabernet…