Napa Valley Chardonnay, Distinctly Duckhorn
For a house built on Bordeaux varietals, Duckhorn Chardonnay might surprise you, though it shouldn’t. Since its inaugural 2012 vintage, winemaker Renée Ary has guided this wine with the same rigor and restraint the estate brings to everything it grows. Lively acidity keeps the wine honest, while measured oak lends depth without obscuring the fruit. It’s a Chardonnay that earns its place at the table and holds it.
Hear Renée tell the story behind the wine.
Three Palms Vineyard: Rooted in Rebellion
Three Palms Vineyard has always belonged to people who saw things differently. First Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who planted palm trees where no one expected them. Then Duckhorn, who chose to elevate Merlot in a valley dominated by Cabernet. The palms still stand today — a little unexpected, entirely unforgettable.
Duckhorn Estate House: A Legacy Reimagined
When Dan and Margaret Duckhorn arrived in Napa Valley in 1976, they weren’t just starting a winery, they were making a home. Nearly fifty years later, we’re reimagining the Estate House with that same intention: a place shaped by the land and the people who’ve gathered here. Doors open in Spring 2027.
The Next Conversation Has Already Started
Introducing the Legacy Wine Collection. Extraordinarily limited. Available only at duckhorn.com.
Every great winery eventually reaches a moment where honoring its past isn’t enough. Where the real question isn’t what have we made but what are we capable of making next?
This is that moment for Duckhorn.
Margaret Duckhorn: The Heart Behind the Legacy
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.
The Wine Born from a Kitchen Table Argument
For nearly three decades, the answer was no. Gathered around the kitchen table, founder Dan Duckhorn and winemaker Tom Rinaldi debated one question: should Duckhorn make a blended cuvée? Dan’s conviction held — Duckhorn would stand for varietal wines, and the depth of Napa Valley’s finest grapes would speak for themselves.
But great ideas have a way of waiting. In 2006, that conversation finally got its answer — and its name.
A Love Letter to our Land
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.
The Vineyard Always Knew First
The Duckhorns came to Merlot when few in Napa gave it a second thought, guided by what
they'd tasted in Bordeaux and what the land kept revealing season after season. They farmed
with patience, listened with intention, and let each vineyard find its own voice. Fifty years on,
that same instinct endures: to go deeper rather than wider, to work in kindred with the land, and to find joy in a craft that's never quite finished teaching.
Don’t Call it A Comeback
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.
The Duck
From the beginning, the duck was never just a logo—it was personal. Inspired by the Duckhorn name and Dan’s love of the outdoors, it reflected a way of life rooted in authenticity and connection. A story of a duck traded for wine captures that spirit. Over time, it became a quiet signature—enduring not by standing out, but by staying true.