Far Niente is one of California’s oldest wineries and its name romantically translates to the Italian phrase “without a care”. It’s meant to imply that when drinking this wine it’s without a care! I would like to live a little Far Niente in my life for sure! 😉
From the moment we drove down the long, tree-lined driveway and through the beautiful and grand private gate, I knew I was in for an unforgettable experience!
My group and I attended a 90 minute tour and tasting. One of the highlights from the tour was viewing the Carriage House filled with spectacular classic cars. The collection is comprised of treasures from Italy, Britain, Germany, and America. Some of the most noteworthy cars I spotted include the 1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast and a 1961 Corvette Roadster.
Interesting enough, Far Niente’s wine cave was the first modern wine cave built in North America. It is immaculate and includes 40,000 square feet and houses 2,500 French oak barrels.
Far Niente found a unique way of harnessing the power of the sun. The winery was an early adopter of solar panels, both water and land-based. Putting panels on water saves the winery vineyard space and generates electricity that provides energy for everything on the property – from the lights to the equipment used in the cellar. Very innovative!
After the tour, my group and I sat down to a seated cheese and wine pairing in the main house that included 5 outstanding wines and artisan cheeses. It’s fun to taste and compare how each cheese teases out different flavors and notes in wines and how the wines bring out unique qualities in each cheese.
At the end, I settled my sweet tooth with Dolce..aka liquid gold from Napa Valley! Dolce is a Sauternes-style blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc grapes. It includes hints of peach, apricot, butterscotch, and honeysuckle..it’s buttery yet fruity aroma is bound to seduce the senses! The sweetness and concentration of the wine is the result of botrytis mold. This mold dehydrates the grapes and helps achieve this late-harvest wine’s fantastic sweetness and flavor.
The primary wines at Far Niente are the Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Dolce. Far Niente takes reservations for tours and tastings by appointment only.
Grab a glass and live a little Far Niente!
Fabulous winery! Should be on everyone’s list. Thank you for the recommendation!