Winemaker Nicole Marchesi is named “Future 40 Tastemaker” by Wine Enthusiast

Napa Valley, California – August 21, 2024 – Far Niente Winery, a cornerstone of Napa Valley’s winemaking tradition, releases the 40th vintage of its esteemed Cabernet Sauvignon this summer. The winery is founded on a deep respect for the land and an unwavering commitment to producing exceptional wines. The winery’s rich heritage and exemplary wines have made it one of the most revered wineries in the world since its first Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 1982.

Far Niente was founded in 1885 by pioneer John Benson, who laid the foundation for what would become the sixth winery in Napa Valley. While traveling in Italy, he came across the phrase “Il Dolce Far Niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing – and was so captivated by its poetic appeal that he gave his winery the name that captures the feeling of enjoying life’s simplest pleasures. In the years following Prohibition, Martin Stelling became the property’s manager, driven by a dream of creating an uninterrupted vineyard along the prestigious west side of Highway 29 in Oakville. That vision continued to blossom in 1979 with the unwavering devotion of the Nickel family, who preserved Martin’s memory and revived Far Niente. Their meticulous restoration earned Far Niente a coveted place on the National Historic Registry and cemented its status as a model of excellence.

Representing 40 years of winemaking excellence, Far Niente 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the winery’s ongoing commitment to finesse and innovation in winemaking. From its historic roots to its forward-thinking approach, Far Niente continues to set the standard for quality and elegance in Napa Valley wines. Even as the winery looks to the future, it remains true to its core principles of respecting the land and striving for ever more expressive wines.

The Nickels’ winemaking philosophy emphasized elegance and sophistication, producing wines that reflect their origins. Known for its balance, complexity and texture, Far Niente’s Cabernet Sauvignon embodies this philosophy and comes from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. These Cabernets are designed for ageing and reveal complex flavors that develop over time.

“Our winemaking philosophy begins in the vineyard, where we think about how to highlight the special qualities of each site,” said Nicole Marchesi, winemaker at Far Niente. “When we make our Napa Valley Cabernet, we like to start here at our home in Oakville, the backbone of the wine. From there, we add layers of flavor, texture and complexity with fruit from other excellent sites, creating a blend that balances structure, power and richness with great acidity and elegance.”

Marchesi is only the fourth female winemaker in Far Niente’s history and is constantly looking for ways to improve and refine winemaking. She joined the winery in 2005 as an enologist and was quickly promoted to assistant winemaker before being named head winemaker in 2009. Under her leadership, Far Niente has continually pushed the boundaries of excellence. Over the past three years, the winery has focused on improving the famed Martin Stelling Vineyard, increasing fruit quality while improving the vineyard’s resilience to climate change. In recognition of her efforts, Marchesi was just named a “Future 40 Tastemaker” for 2024 by Wine Enthusiast. Each year, Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 list recognizes a diverse group of trendsetters who are leading the beverage business into the future.

“It is an honor to be part of this group of thought-provoking changemakers. At Far Niente, we consider ourselves lifelong learners and constantly seek to learn from the best. This spirit of curiosity drives everything we do,” said Marchesi. “Every vintage offers an opportunity to learn something new and improve our winemaking to meet the high standards that have distinguished Far Niente for generations.”

The release of Far Niente 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the highlight of a nearly perfect growing season. Adequate winter rainfall helped saturate and revitalize soils, and a warm summer accelerated ripening, resulting in fruit with intense flavor and fresh acidity. Although the harvest was smaller than usual, the fruit had excellent concentration. The resulting wine is of exceptional quality, with beautiful depth of flavor and balance. Far Niente 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $130) will be available directly from the winery and at fine wine retailers and restaurants nationwide.

To demonstrate the estate’s exemplary winemaking and commitment to ever-increasing quality, Far Niente also introduced the Benson Vale Cabernet Sauvignon this year, a prestigious new wine that best reflects the remarkable character of the Martin Stelling Vineyard. The extremely limited edition 2021 Benson Vale Cabernet Sauvignon is only available through the winery. Far Niente is also known for its Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, which highlights the distinctive character of the Western Oakville Bench. In addition, the estate’s “Cave Collection” offers the opportunity to taste a piece of history – select previous vintages of Far Niente’s Cabernet Sauvignons are available through the winery. Far Niente invites wine lovers to celebrate this remarkable achievement together and taste the history, passion and craftsmanship that make up each bottle.

About the Far Niente Winery

About Far Niente Wine Estates

Our heritage dates back to 1885 when John Benson realized his dream and built the iconic Far Niente stone winery in the heart of Napa Valley. In 1979, the Nickel family continued this rich legacy by carefully restoring Far Niente to its original splendor and establishing an internationally recognized, world-class winery in the heart of Oakville, famous for its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Preserving and evolving the Napa heritage that began over 135 years ago has been the driving force behind Far Niente Wine Estates. As stewards of over 400 acres of prime vineyards in Napa and Russian River Valley, we have laid the foundation for a gradual expansion into additional wineries. Today, our portfolio includes Nickel & Nickel, a pioneer in single-vineyard and single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Bella Union, dedicated to showcasing diverse expressions of Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Post & Beam, where we apply time-honored techniques to create a contemporary and accessible style of wine, EnRoute, dedicated to producing world-class Pinot Noir, and Dolce, recognized as America’s premier late harvest wine. Far Niente Wine Estates is steadfast in its commitment to responsible and sustainable winemaking, creating lasting value for all involved. As stewards of the land entrusted to us, we prioritize minimizing our environmental impact while caring for the environment as best we can. Our generosity extends beyond the winery to the community that enriches us, and we maintain transparency and authenticity in our ethical standards. At the heart of our organization is celebrating the unique differences of each team member and fostering a culture of belonging.