COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2009
GRAPE
Chardonnay
PRODUCER
Far Niente Winery
REGION
California
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Far Niente was originally founded in Oakville in 1885 by gold-rush entrepreneur John Benson. The gravity-flow stone winery was abandoned in 1919 with the onset of Prohibition and remained untouched for sixty years until Gil and Beth Nickel purchased and meticulously restored the property in 1979. Today, the historic estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features the first modern, underground wine caves built in North America. The name Far Niente is derived from the Italian phrase 'dolce far niente,' meaning 'the sweetness of doing nothing,' which was carved into the winery's stone facade in 1885.
ALCOHOL
14.3%
AVG. PRICE
€80
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
NO
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The 2009 vintage was the inaugural vintage for head winemaker Nicole Marchesi, who became only the fourth head winemaker in the estate's history.
Fact 02
The name Far Niente comes from the Italian phrase 'dolce far niente,' meaning 'the sweetness of doing nothing.'
Fact 03
The winery's elaborate, gold-embossed label was designed in 1979 by stained-glass artist Tom Rodrigues, a close friend of the winery's owner.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes are sourced from cool-climate estate vineyards in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley, where morning fog and moderate temperatures allow for slow, even ripening. In the cellar, the wine is 100% barrel fermented. Following a classic house style established in 1979, malolactic fermentation is completely blocked to preserve the grape's natural, crisp malic acidity. The wine is aged for ten months sur lie in French oak barrels, utilizing a combination of approximately 61% new and 39% once-used barrels to integrate subtle oak complexity while maintaining fruit purity.
