october 2026
october 2026 Dear White Wine Club Member, This season asks a little more of a white wine—it has to stand up to the season's richer cooking without losing its brightness. This shipment gives you two ways to meet that: the 2025 Napa Valley Chardonnay and our Coombsville Chardonnay, a single-appellation counterpoint from one of the valley's cooler corners. Pour the Napa Valley alongside roast chicken with herbs, or a wild mushroom risotto, or let the Coombsville lead you toward something with a touch more tension — seared scallops, or a wedge of aged cheese a wedge of aged cheese as the evening light grows short. Served just below cellar temperature, both open gradually in the glass and rewards a slower pace. It's a wine for the table this season—generous, food-friendly, and simply delicious.
With Gratitude,
Nicole Marchesi far niente winemaker
2025 Far Niente Chardonnay napa valley Layered aromas of grilled lemon, toasted hazelnut and lemon verbena are lifted by orange blossom and dried white flowers. Honeydew melon, baking spice and a touch of toasted marshmallow unfold over wet stone and flint. Silky on entry, the palate builds in richness with lemon oil, bright minerality and integrated barrel toast. Concentrated yet fresh and juicy, the wine finishes lively and persistent with a delicate whisper of brine. APPELLATION Napa Valley VARIETALS 100% Chardonnay
AGING 10 months in French oak (45% new, 32% bâtonnage stirring) HARVEST DATES August 29 September 27, 2025
WINEMAKER Nicole Marchesi VICE PRESIDENT OF WINEMAKING Andrew Delos
VINEYARD
Far Niente Chardonnay is a blend of exceptional Napa Valley vineyards in Carneros and Coombsville. Carneros’ cool maritime climate and well-draining soils create an ideal environment for outstanding Chardonnay, while Coombsville offers less wind and deeper gravelly loam and volcanic ash soils. Together, these vineyards deliver the subtle tropical flavors, complex aromas and uncommon richness long associated with Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay. HARVEST
The 2025 growing season opened with a colder, wetter winter than the years before. Abundant rainfall through February and March left the soils deeply charged with moisture, reducing the need for irrigation well into the summer months. Consistently mild temperatures through June and July, free of extreme heat events, slowed the accumulation of growing degree days. Even so, ripening pressed on steadily, with flavor development outpacing sugar accumulation. When the heat finally arrived around Labor Day, our Chardonnay harvest began in earnest in our earliest Coombsville and Carneros hillside blocks. Moderate sugars, concentrated flavors, and lively acidity yielded a classically styled Chardonnay of both depth and elegance.
2024 Far Niente Chardonnay COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Opening with expressive aromas of white flowers and gardenia, layered with bright citrus, ripe melon, and a signature wet stone minerality. Subtle notes of vanilla and lightly toasted oak add dimension and finesse. On the palate, vibrant freshness and mineral tension frame flavors of citrus and stone fruit, while a silky, almost oily texture builds through the mid-palate. The wine finishes long and concentrated, balancing richness with elegance and lift. APPELLATION Coombsville, Napa Valley
AGING 16 months in French oak (60% new, 40% neutral)
WINEMAKER Nicole Marchesi
VARIETALS 100% Chardonnay
HARVEST DATES August 28 September 14, 2024
VICE PRESIDENT OF WINEMAKING Andrew Delos
VINEYARD
This wine is a blend of selected barrels of Chardonnay from several of our favorite vineyards in the region and showcases the delicate and layered aromas typical of this appellation, as well as the engaging texture achieved from our estate fruit. HARVEST
The 2024 growing season began with generous winter rainfall that replenished soils and supported balanced vine growth throughout the year. Mild spring conditions brought steady development following an average budbreak, with warm days and cool nights encouraging healthy canopy formation and even fruit set. As the season progressed, naturally shaded canopies helped preserve freshness through the warmer summer months, guiding the fruit toward a smooth and consistent veraison. A moderating shift in temperatures ahead of harvest allowed the grapes to retain acidity and aromatic clarity. Harvest began in late August at our earliest Coombsville sites and continued steadily through mid-September. The resulting wines reflect a classic expression of the appellation, combining layered flavors and structural depth with poise, vibrancy, and a distinct sense of place.
Event Calendar SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 & 18, 2026
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2026
Grape to Glass - Harvest Experience
Holiday Celebration
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NEXT SHIPMENT: DECEMBER 2026 LOOKING TO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL ORDER? TEXT OR CALL: (707) 302-3635
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