Before she helped change the way America saw Merlot, Margaret Duckhorn spent years as a school nurse, caring for children across eight up-valley schools. She tended her garden, hosted with warmth, and when the Duckhorn tasting room was built, she had one rule: make it feel like someone's home. This Mother's Day, we raise a glass of her favorite, North Coast Sauvignon Blanc, and toast to her, and to the women who've shaped the people and places we love.

Margaret Duckhorn didn’t speak about sustainability as a strategy. She spoke about home.

For more than four decades, she helped shape Duckhorn Vineyards with a simple belief: the land and the community are never separate. To care for one is to care for the other.

“This valley is our home,” she said. “We live here. Our children live here. We recognize the importance of taking care of this remarkable place, and of giving back to the community that has given us so much.”

It wasn’t something she announced. It was something she lived, quietly and consistently over time.

Today, that same spirit carries forward across Duckhorn. In the way we farm. In the way we partner with growers. In the way we invest in the people and places that make Napa Valley what it is.

On Earth Day, and every day, it’s a reminder that stewardship isn’t a moment or a message. It’s a responsibility we continue to grow into.

Call it conviction.

We’ve believed in Merlot since 1976. Not because it was trending, but because we saw what it could become.

For nearly 250 years, Merlot has been prized for its depth, color, and expressive beauty. From its early roots in Bordeaux to tables around the world, it has always been a grape of generosity and grace. Silky in texture, rich in fruit, and endlessly food-friendly, Merlot offers immediate pleasure and rewards patience in equal measure.

For 50 years, Duckhorn has crafted wines meant to be shared at the table, an idea rooted in Margaret Duckhorn’s early love of hosting. Today, that spirit lives on through thoughtfully prepared meals, exceptional Napa Valley wines, and experiences designed to bring people together. Discover it for yourself through Gather & Graze at The Duckhorn Collection.

Dan Duckhorn, co-founder of Duckhorn Vineyards and champion of Merlot, passed away on February 25 at the age of 87. For nearly five decades, his vision helped shape our winery, our wines, and the path of Napa Valley itself. His impact on American wine is profound and lasting.