Oakville

Far Niente: A Jewel Box that Produces Luxury Estate-Bottled WInes

Filed under: Wine

Far Niente is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best White Wine

Legendary for its jewel box beauty, stunning gardens and critically acclaimed estate wines, Far Niente is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Domestic White Wine.

Far Niente was founded in 1885, by John Benson, an original forty-niner of the California gold rush and uncle of the artist, Winslow Homer. It was one of the Napa Valley's first gravity flow wineries, which gently moves the grapes through each stage of production.

Benson named the winery "Far Niente" after the Italian phrase "Dolce Far Niente" meaning, "sweet to do nothing". The winery prospered until its abandonment at the onset of Prohibition in 1919. The winery was abandoned for sixty years, until Oklahoman Gil Nickel purchased the property and adjoining vineyard in 1979 and began a meticulous, three-year restoration. Nickel, a physicist by education with a background in agriculture through his family's nursery business, had relocated to California with a quest to create a world-class Napa Valley wine estate. While the winery was being restored, Nickel took courses in the enology and viticulture program at the University of California at Davis. Nickel's efforts were rewarded with the placement of Far Niente on the National Registrar of Historic Places.

Gallery: Far Niente

Tags: Far Niente, luxist-awards, luxist-main, Napa Valley, Oakville, wine

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Edgemere, Canada's Most Expensive Estate Now Luxury Condos

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Back in 2006 we covered the Edgemere Estate which was, at $45 million, the most expensive residential property ever to be listed for sale in Canada. Now the Edgemere property on Lake Ontario along the Oakville gold coast has a new life as a condo project. The Edgemere Private Residences will be 30 ultra-luxurious condominiums in 10 different buildings. Units will be one-level and range from 2,000 to upwards of 5,400 square feet.

Edgemere is a storied property dating back from the Arts and Crafts Architectural Movement and featuring many historical remnants that date back to the turn of the century. These include a stone wall that defines the northern border of the property, the estate's original boathouse and lighthouse, and a carriage house and stable. As the estate is transformed over the next few years, little touches will ensure that the original feeling of the property lives on. The elegant arches from the original greenhouse will be incorporated into a new greenhouse and the keeper's lodge will become a three-bedroom guest cottage.

Each home will offer direct access to either a large private lakeside garden or landscaped terrace and entryways are private with manicured gardens and stone walls. Inside homes have large principal rooms, multiple fireplaces, custom-designed kitchens, a library, wine cellar and spa style master bathroom. Ten inch thick steel reinforced concrete floors with acoustical separation between adjacent residences and ten foot ceilings offer a sense of privacy and spaciousness. The heated private underground garage has two parking spaces and is connected to the residence with a private stairway and personal elevator. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Fall 2010. Residences range in price from $2,595,000 to over $6,000,000.

Gallery: Edgemere Private Residences

Tags: condo projects, condominiums, edgemere, luxury condo projects, oakville, ontario

Bonny's Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Does the name Justin Meyer ring any bells? At first I didn't recognize its significance either but as I delved more into the story behind Bonny's Vineyard I gasped with realization -- Mr. Meyer was the co-founder of the super Cab of Napa, Silver Oak! For some of you that may not be very exciting but in my household there was a time when Silver Oak was king of the wine cellar for my father. Not only has the Meyer name been attached to this mega-wine but the next generation of Meyer's has recently created a new Cabernet Sauvignon aged in only 100% new American Oak barrels which sustains a 13.19% alcohol. Named for Justin's wife, Bonny, and the vineyard purchased long ago in her name, this wine eases out of the Napa Cab mold with grace while continuing a high-quality family tradition. $135

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Tags: Bonnys Vineyard, Bonnys Vineyard 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, BonnysVineyard, BonnysVineyard2003CabernetSauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, meyer family cellars, MeyerFamilyCellars, Oakville, Silver Oak, SilverOak

Edgemere Estate, Canada's Most Expensive House

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A reader tipped us to this house a while back and now a Toronto Star article gives us a few more details on Canada's most expensive house. Edgemere Estate in Oakville is selling for $45 million Canadian (around $40,643,055 US). The home on Lake Ontario offers 32,000 square feet of space. The nine bedroom house was originally built in 1907 and also has a two-story guest cottage. Details include a spa area with sauna and therapy rooms, a 20-seat home theater, a children's playroom and 17 bathrooms.

How much will it really sell for? The article points out that last year former Microsoft Canada president Frank Clegg sold his waterfront house for around $25 million (he was asking $29 million) and prices in the millions are getting common in the area. Still at $45 million this might be sitting on the market for a while. After all, Ballymema, which we profiled last year, is still on the market as is another Oakville estate we highlighted which was originally listed at $13.9 million and now sits listed at $12 million.

[Thanks, Sean]

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Tags: canada, luxury real estate, oakville, real estate, toronto