Baseball may forever be linked to beer and hot dogs, but that classic pairing is getting a polished update at Oracle Park. The San Francisco Giants have partnered with one of Napa Valley’s most storied estates, House of Far Niente, to redefine how fans toast a home run.
The Giants—eight-time World Series champions and one of Major League Baseball’s most enduring franchises—are no strangers to blending legacy with innovation. From the time of past heroes like Willie Mays and Barry Bonds, the team has long held a central place in baseball’s cultural story. Even in a rebuilding year like 2024, the Giants are leading a new evolution—this time in wine.
Founded in 1885 by San Francisco entrepreneur John Benson—uncle to painter Winslow Homer—Far Niente thrived until Prohibition shuttered it in 1919. For 60 years, it remained one of Napa’s “ghost wineries” before being resurrected in 1979 by Gil Nickel, who preserved its Italianate architecture and commitment to craftsmanship. Today, the estate is helmed by Beth Nickel, who championed the Giants’ partnership.
“My late husband, Gil, and I are lifelong Giants fans, so this partnership is particularly meaningful to me,” Beth said. “Baseball and fine wine both have the power to create unforgettable moments, and we look forward to being part of those memories for Giants fans.”
The team’s connection to wine goes back to 1977, when Candlestick Park became the first MLB stadium to serve it in-house. But in 2023, the Giants elevated that legacy by becoming the first professional sports franchise to hire a Master Sommelier and launching the House of Far Niente Vintage ’58 Bar on the Promenade Level of Oracle Park in 2024.
The bar features a curated selection from Far Niente’s family of labels: Far Niente, Bella Union, EnRoute, and Post & Beam. From the bold structure of Bella Union’s Napa Cabs to EnRoute’s polished Pinot Noirs and the approachable, fruit-driven wines of Post & Beam, each pour brings a different expression of Northern California to the ballpark.
The name “Far Niente” translates from Italian as “doing nothing”—or more poetically, il dolce far niente, the sweetness of idleness. It’s a fitting ethos for a winery known for elegant, age-worthy wines meant to be savored. And it’s ideally suited to sipping a crisp Chardonnay or silky Cabernet as the sun sinks behind McCovey Cove.
The Giants-Far Niente collaboration feels natural in a place where world-class vineyards meet diehard fans. Both are Northern California institutions, and their team-up expands both experiences, adding a little elegance to the crowd’s roar. It’s a game-changer, quite literally.
All photos courtesy of House of Far Niente