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 Navy 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The White Wine That Helped Define Duckhorn
Inspired by the great white wines of Bordeaux, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn saw the potential for Sauvignon Blanc in Napa Valley long before it became a winery staple. Since 1982, Duckhorn Vineyards North Coast Sauvignon Blanc has reflected that vision, balancing vibrant fruit, elegance, and a distinct sense of place.
Hear Renée Ary share what makes Duckhorn Vineyards North Coast Sauvignon Blanc one of their most iconic wines.
The Father of American Merlot
This Father’s Day, we celebrate the legacy of Dan Duckhorn: a visionary who trusted his instincts, championed Napa Valley Merlot when few others would, and helped shape the future of American wine. Dan’s impact extends far beyond the bottle and his story is a reminder that the greatest legacies are built through conviction, generosity, and a commitment to those who follow. This Father’s Day, we raise a glass to Dan, and to the fathers who built something worth passing down.
What My Dad Passed Down ||by Lauren Stafford
Ed Gerard kept a bottle of Duckhorn Merlot in his wine locker at Morton’s and had an opinion on every pairing. His daughter Lauren carries that tradition forward — one vintage at a time.