Far Niente was founded in 1885 by John Benson, a member of the "Forty Niner" generation that arrived in California during the 1849 Gold Rush and uncle of painter Winslow Homer. Benson hired architect Hamden McIntyre, who also designed Christian Brothers Winery (now CIA) and Gustav Niebaum Winery (now Inglenook), to design the winery. The winery thrived until 1919, when Prohibition shut it down and it was left largely untouched for 60 years. In 1979, Gil Nickel purchased the winery and adjacent vineyards and began a three-year restoration. The winery building was beautifully restored and was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The name "Far Niente" comes from the fact that the winery building had a stone inscribed "Far Niente" carved into the front of the building from the beginning. This means "the comfort of doing nothing" in Italian. In 1982, fermentation of the harvested Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon began, and brewing at Far Niente resumed for the first time in about 69 years. From 1979 to 1982, the winery was under renovation, so the harvested Chardonnay was brewed and sold at another location. Far Niente is still a winery that specializes only in Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Built on the western slope of Oakville, Far Niente is a gravity-fed winery, and the grapes are treated carefully and gently at each stage of the winemaking process. The industry's highest level of brewing technology, a particular house style, grape cultivation in our own vineyards, and a commitment to social responsibility are the reasons why Far Niente continues to be loved around the world. Far Niente's past and present were reunited in 1998. That same year, an 1886 vintage Far Niente Sweet Muscat was discovered in the cellar of a private home in Marin County. The bottle, with its original label, cork and cap seal still intact, is believed to be the oldest intact California wine still in existence. The sepia-toned label depicts grape clusters spilling out of a hammock and is said to have been designed by Benson's nephew, painter Winslow Homer. Far Niente's current label was designed in 1979 by artist Tom Rodriguez, who also designed the labels for sister wineries Dolce, Nickel & Nickel, On Route and Bella Union. Far Niente has a cave (approximately 3,700 square meters) excavated into the hillside on which the winery was built. This was a project that John Benson dreamed of when the winery was first established, and Gil Nickel took over the dream and completed the construction over the course of 20 years. The cave currently houses 2,500 French oak barrels filled with wines waiting to be released, as well as the "Cave Collection", a collection of precious old vintages that are released after careful aging.