Tucked away off the beaten path in the town of Oakville, California you will find one of Napa’s most iconic wineries. Far Niente, an Italian phrase that translates into ‘without a care’ was founded in 1885 by gold miner John Benson who hired architect Hamden McIntyre to make his dream come to life. McIntyre, a well-renowned architect of the times, who had also designed some other prominent wineries and buildings in Napa Valley spared no detail when designing this now-renowned winery.

Like many other wineries in the United States, Far Niente had to close its doors in 1919 because of Prohibition but fortunately was brought back to glory in 1979 when Gil and Beth Nickel purchased the property. As a result of the magnificent restoration efforts, the winery was included in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2016 GI Partners, who had purchased Duckhorn Vineyards in 2007, acquired the winery. In that same year GI partners sold Duckhorn and focused its efforts on continuing the Far Niente tradition of making world-class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

With 13 acres of gardens, a wine cave, a vintage car collection and a beautiful wine-tasting terrace surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the Estate, Far Niente is a magical experience. During our visit we were fortunate to taste their wines along with wines from their other wineries. Some of our favorites were the elegantly bold 2019 Far Niente Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and the flavorful 2016 Dolce which showcased sweet and delicious apricot notes. We also enjoyed having the opportunity to taste their 2022 EnRoute Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. 

Although the winery is mostly known for its award-winning wines it is important to note that it is also at the forefront of advancing sustainable farming and environmental practices. One of the most fascinating features of the winery is that all of the electricity consumed at the property comes from solar panels that float on their vineyard pond and from panels on their property. It is environmentally friendly projects like this that have earned Far Niente the Napa Green Certificate and the California Sustainable Vineyard & Winery Certification.

When visiting Napa, ending a day at this oasis of tranquility while enjoying a glass of wine is an experience we believe will bring joy to any wine lover.