On a weekday afternoon at The Duckhorn Collection on Silverado Trail, a table fills up and Chef Dom’s kitchen sends out plates made to sit beside the wine. The setting is new, but the instinct behind it goes back further than the winery. In the early 1970s, before Duckhorn Vineyards existed, Dan and Margaret’s friends would turn up at their house with bags of bottles to open and taste together, sometimes for an occasion, mostly for no reason at all. Those evenings are a big part of why Duckhorn started. While Margaret’s Estate House on Lodi Lane is renovated for its 2027 reopening, The Duckhorn Collection is where we’re pouring Duckhorn Vineyards and welcoming guests. Come over. We’ll open something.

For nearly four decades, the Hurtado family has been part of Duckhorn Vineyards. It began with Juan Hurtado and his brothers and has grown into a multigenerational story of hard work, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to great wine. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we're honored to share the story of a family who helped shape our history, and whose roots continue to grow alongside our own.

At Duckhorn, 25 years of dedication is recognized in a way uniquely tied to the land. Team members who reach this milestone select a vineyard block, a defined section of the estate farmed as its own, to bear their name: a lasting tribute to the people whose care, knowledge, and commitment have helped shape Duckhorn over the past 50 years.

For Margaret Duckhorn, wine was always meant to be shared around the table. Fifty years later, that spirit of hospitality remains at the heart of the Duckhorn experience. Amanda McCrossin brings this tradition to life with a gathering inspired by good food, great wine, and the simple pleasure of bringing people together to enjoy it all.

The 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Three Palms Merlot marked a defining moment in the winery’s history. Named Wine Spectator’s 2017 Wine of the Year, the recognition was more than an accolade. It was a milestone for a wine Duckhorn had believed in for decades. Winemaker Renée Ary reflects on the vintage, the legacy of Three Palms Vineyard, and the enduring influence it continues to have on Duckhorn's Merlot program today.