Part of Collection of Far Niente Winery - Napa | FerrariChat

Part of Collection of Far Niente Winery - Napa

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by Drew Altemara, Sep 21, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Drew Altemara

    Drew Altemara Formula 3

    Feb 11, 2002
    1,504
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    Full Name:
    Drew Altemara
    #1 Drew Altemara, Sep 21, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  2. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,874
    #2 CornersWell, Sep 21, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2009
  3. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,737
    340 America Spider Vignale #0140 A. Gil Nickel bought it August 1980.
    Marcel Massini
     
  4. trashidelek!

    trashidelek! Formula Junior

    Nov 18, 2004
    891
    IIRC there was a 500 Superfast parked next to it.
     
  5. lawrencejones

    lawrencejones Karting

    Nov 11, 2008
    57
    What a stunning example!
     
  6. BIGHORN

    BIGHORN In Memoriam

    Sep 18, 2006
    733
    FLORIDA/NEW MEXICO
    Full Name:
    JOHN F KELLY
    Gil and Jack May were in the 87 Millie Miglia with this car. Gil unfortunatly passed away some time ago
     
  7. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    he passed away about 4 yrs ago if i recall. he was a neat guy...a collector and avid vintage racer!
     
  8. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,874
    Gil and I ran in the '99 Sebring HSR races together, and after not crossing paths again for a while, we ran into each other in Portofino after the Monaco Grand Prix (maybe '91, IIRC). Small world! We should have shared that bottle of Dolce when we had the chance.

    CW
     
  9. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    The winery is still well known for it's output, I see it here...

    But to get access to the cars has become difficult to do, as I understand it, and always glad to see pictures of them posted again. Thanks!!!

    RIP Gil, any of the R&T articles of his exploits are a great read, just a down to earth real world guy.......
     
  10. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
    Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 1, 2002
    18,043
    San Marino, CA
    Full Name:
    L. Wayne Ausbrooks
    By the way, they make a wonderful Cabernet. One of my favorite California wines.
     
  11. bertdeboer340

    bertdeboer340 Formula 3

    Sep 16, 2003
    2,369
    Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Bert de Boer
    Hello Drew,

    Did you take this picture? And do you have more? I would love to see some..

    Bert de Boer

    www.ferrari340america.nl
     
  12. schwaggen

    schwaggen Karting

    Apr 22, 2006
    104
    Miami FL
    #12 schwaggen, Sep 22, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    We went on the winery tour back in April (you do have to book an appointment in advance), and made what seemed to be a pretty standard stop in the car barn [the tour guide's schtick was "OK, now the part for the husbands..ha ha ha..." In fact, the tour was great in every way except for the canned schtick. The guy has just given the tour too many times.]

    They seem pretty proud of the collection and encouraged us to take pics. Mine didn't come out great, but it looks like the yellow one has not moved since we were there. I recall a really cool old Bentley Continental, a newer Bentley, a Jag XK120, an Alfa Guilietta Spyder, three Ferraris- the yellow spyder, the Superfast, and a Daytona, plus a late model Viper, a 70's era F1 car, a London taxi plus a couple of others and a cool steam launch. Could have spent longer in there, but the ladies wanted to get to the actual drinking part of the tour. :)
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  13. Ed Niles

    Ed Niles Formula 3
    Honorary

    Sep 7, 2004
    2,493
    West Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwin K. Niles
    #14 Ed Niles, Sep 22, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. ryankjb

    ryankjb Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2006
    1,071
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Ryan
    That is a gorgeous car.

    Thanks for sharing the pics.
     
  15. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Thanks for the link.....I read the R&T article/interview and maybe the car was the Salon feature that month??
     
  16. readplays

    readplays Formula 3

    Aug 22, 2008
    2,344
    New York City
    Full Name:
    Dave Powers
    BigTex,

    I read the R&T Salon feature on the Bentley Continental R when it was published (I think somewhere back in the 90s). The article did a great job of articulating both how wonderful this model Bentley was (and why everyone should have one) and how passionate Gil Nickel was about the cars he had and enjoyed.
    Good stuff.

    Best,
    Dave
     
  17. stevenwk

    stevenwk F1 Veteran

    Apr 12, 2007
    5,470
    Metro Detroit
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #18 stevenwk, Sep 22, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2009
    Don't forget.......I believe Bill Harlan of Harlan Estates still owns a yellow 275 GTB/4.

    Can anyone help with the serial #
     
  18. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,037
    Moot Pointe
    Dolce....my all-time favorite dessert wine.
     
  19. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
    Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 1, 2002
    18,043
    San Marino, CA
    Full Name:
    L. Wayne Ausbrooks
    Who's that presenting the trophy?
     
  20. furmano

    furmano Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 22, 2004
    31,905
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Furman
    LOL, I thought it was Big Tex! ;)

    -F
     
  21. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    i'm a big fan of the nickel and nickel cabernet and merlot.
     
  22. VisualHomage

    VisualHomage F1 Veteran

    Aug 30, 2006
    5,611
    San Antonio
    what an exquisite example of stunning beauty

    a rare pleasure to even see pics of in the real world
     
  23. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

    Jan 3, 2006
    2,989
    tewksbury
    Full Name:
    george burgess
    HI great pictures, Thanks to you and Ed. just one man's opinion Tongascrew
     
  24. ggjjr

    ggjjr Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    870
    Detroit
    Full Name:
    George
    About seven years ago I went to a wine pairing dinner at a very casual club I belong to. The chef did a great job of pairing a vertical of about six of Far Niente's cabernets. They were from the years '95 to '03 (not including the '97). The wine was really flowing even though the dinner only cost about $100. I think that I was the only one of the fifty or so people that really understood what we were drinking. I was in heaven! Oh, for the days....

    George
     

Share This Page