From 1976 to Forever

50 Stories Celebrating
Duckhorn Vineyards

For fifty years, Duckhorn Vineyards has been shaped by the land, the seasons, and the people who care deeply for both. Rather than marking this milestone with a single moment, we’re celebrating it the way we know best: through stories, shared over time.

Throughout the year, we’ll be releasing fifty stories that offer a closer look at the people, places, and passions that define Duckhorn — from behind-the-scenes moments to memories worth revisiting, and a few surprises along the way.

Each week, a new story will live here, alongside additional moments shared across our channels. Together, they reflect where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and what continues to inspire us as we look ahead.

Story 31

The Joy of Gathering

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.

Story 30

POV: A Tasting at the Duckhorn Collection

Step inside The Duckhorn Collection, a new Napa Valley tasting concept introduced during Duckhorn Vineyards’ 50th anniversary year. As our iconic Estate House is thoughtfully reimagined for its next chapter, The Duckhorn Collection offers a different way to experience our world, bringing together wines and stories from across our family of wineries in one welcoming setting. Open to families, four-legged companions and wine lovers of every level, it is a relaxed, thoughtful place to explore where we have been and get a taste of where we are going next.

Story 29

The Vintage that Changed Everything

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.

Story 28

The Winemaker on a Motorcycle

It's 1978. Dan and Margaret Duckhorn have just started a winery, and the man they've hired is a former pharmacist and Army veteran named Tom Rinaldi. He doesn't look the part. He turns out to be exactly right. Tom paired a scientist's discipline with real instinct in the cellar. With the Duckhorns, he made the 1978 Three Palms Merlot, an early bet on a grape most of Napa wasn't taking seriously. That mix of science and instinct still defines how we make wine today.

Story 27

A Place at the Table

For our 50th anniversary, we handed creator Anna Page a bottle of our 50th Anniversary Rutherford Cabernet and asked her to gather her friends. Watch one long summer evening unfold.

Story 26

Why Don’t We Give It a Go?

Fifty years ago, with ten acres, a handful of old greenhouses, and no winery to speak of, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn decided to find out if they could make wine themselves. That decision became Duckhorn Vineyards. Discover how the instinct behind it, the willingness to try, still carries the winery forward today.

Story 25

The Wines We Remember

Which of the wines we drink today will people still be talking about in thirty years? Sommelier and wine educator Amanda McCrossin has an answer, and she's had it in her glass. Napa planted Cabernet. We planted Merlot, and kept planting it. We partnered with Amanda to taste where that's gotten us.

Story 24

The Wine They Refused to Blend Away

In 1978, Duckhorn’s first winemaker wanted to blend the winery’s Cabernet and Merlot into a single wine. Dan and Margaret Duckhorn made a different call. Nearly fifty years later, the decision to let Merlot stand on its own remains at the heart of Duckhorn’s winemaking legacy.

Story 23

A Conversation on Legacy

As Duckhorn Vineyards celebrates 50 years, we partnered with The New York Times to reflect on the people, vision, and milestones that have shaped the winery since its founding. Watch as Winemaker Renée Ary and Director of Estate Vineyards Rob Sorenson share the story behind Duckhorn's pioneering legacy, its commitment to quality, and the future of Napa Valley winemaking.

Story 22

America at 250. Duckhorn at 50.

America turns 250 this year. We turn 50. We didn't plan to share an anniversary with the country — but we'll take it. Two declarations, two hundred years apart, rooted in the same conviction: that something new was worth believing in.

Top Recommended Wine

2025 Duckhorn Vineyards 50th Anniversary North Coast Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage: 2025
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

At Duckhorn Vineyards, we have been making Sauvignon Blanc since 1982. Harvested from our estates and elite vineyard sites in California’s North Coast, this rich and elegant Sauvignon Blanc was blended with Sémillon to add depth and complexity. Fermented and aged using both stainless steel and French oak, it offers ripe citrus and tropical flavors, refreshing acidity and Sémillon-driven silkiness.

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