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.

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.

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.

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.