Gil Nickel
Gil Nickel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1939 Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day Oakville, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Winemaker, proprietor |
| Known for | Proprietor of Far Niente Winery; founder of Dolce Winery and Nickel & Nickel Winery |
Gil Nickel (1939 – October 30, 2003) was a prominent American winemaker and proprietor of the historic Far Niente Winery located in Napa Valley. He was also the founder of both Dolce Winery and Nickel & Nickel Winery.
Early life
Harold Gilliland Nickel entered the world in 1939 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Mathematics from Oklahoma State University in 1961. During the Vietnam War, he served with the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
Career
Nickel initially worked as a missile analyst at the United States Navy Laboratory based in Corona, California. Subsequently, he joined Greenleaf Nursery, a significant family-operated wholesale nursery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he helped manage the enterprise alongside relatives while cultivating his passion for vineyards in California.
In 1976, he relocated back to California to pursue oenology studies at the University of California at Davis and furthered his education in France. By 1979, he acquired the historic Far Niente Winery in Oakville, which had been founded in 1885 but left unused throughout Prohibition. Over three years, Nickel undertook extensive restoration efforts that included enlarging the winery’s rock-hewn caves to 40,000 square feet by employing specialized mining technology. These caves have since been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Napa County, California. After a six-decade suspension, Far Niente recommenced wine production.
In 1992, Nickel established Dolce Winery with a focus on producing late-harvest dessert wines. Four years later, in collaboration with his son Jeremy, he created Nickel & Nickel Winery, dedicated to crafting wines from single vineyards rather than blends.
Personal life
Nickel was married to Susan Nickel, and together they had a son named Jeremy. At the time of his passing, he was married to Beth Nickel. An enthusiastic vintage car racer, Gil achieved victory in the FIA European Historic Sportscar Championship in 2000 behind the wheel of his 1964 Lotus 26R. His vast collection of classic automobiles is displayed at Far Niente.
Death
Nickel passed away from cancer on October 30, 2003, in Oakville, California.
Legacy
- In 2011, Jeremy Nickel initiated legal action against other Far Niente Winery owners alleging improper conduct.
- The Gil Nickel Humanitarian Award at the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation of the University of California, Los Angeles is named to honor his memory.