Gil Nickel

[1][2][3] He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Mathematics.

[1][2][3] He started his career by working as a missile analyst for the United States Navy Laboratory in Corona, California.

[2] In 1979, he purchased the historic Far Niente Winery in Oakville, which had been established in 1885 by John Benson, a '49er of the Californian gold rush and uncle of the famous American impressionist painter Winslow Homer.

The winery was in disrepair having been abandoned 60 years previously during Prohibition and Nickel spent three years restoring it, including the impressive caves, carved out of solid rock, which he repaired and extended to 40,000 sq ft using a 22-foot English electric-hydraulic drill previously used in coal mines.

A talented amateur vintage car racer, Gil competed internationally and won the FIA European Historic Sportscar Championship in 2000 in his 1964 Lotus 26R.