Duckhorn Vineyards

Duckhorn Vineyards was founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, who purchased a 10-acre property in St. Helena they named Marlee's Vineyard, making Duckhorn one of the first 40 wineries in Napa Valley. Tom Rinaldi served as founding winemaker. The winery's inaugural 1978 harvest produced 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Three Palms Vineyard Merlot. Duckhorn released its debut Napa Valley Merlot vintage in 1979 and added a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to the lineup in 1982. Alex Ryan, who started with the winery in 1981 during high school summers, went on to serve as CEO and president from 2005 to 2023.

• Founded 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn; purchased the 10-acre Marlee's Vineyard property in St. Helena; one of the first 40 wineries in Napa Valley
• Tom Rinaldi served as founding winemaker
• Inaugural 1978 harvest: 800 cases Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases Three Palms Vineyard Merlot; debut Napa Valley Merlot vintage released 1979
• Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc added to the lineup in 1982; first Howell Mountain appellation-designated wine released in 1989
• Alex Ryan started with the winery in 1981 during high school summers and later served as CEO and president from 2005 to 2023

Duckhorn's estate program comprises nine vineyard properties across distinct Napa Valley sub-appellations, established beginning in the late 1980s to meet long-term grape sourcing needs: Three Palms, Marlee's, Stout, Monitor Ledge, Rector Creek, Patzimaro, Cork Tree, El Veredicto and Wolfe Vineyard. Three Palms Vineyard, the source of Duckhorn's flagship Merlot since 1978, spans 73.66 acres at 357 feet elevation in the Calistoga sub-appellation, planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec on Bale Loam, Cortina Very Stony Loam, Bale Clay Loam and Riverwash soils; Duckhorn acquired the vineyard in 2015. Renée Ary, who joined Duckhorn in 2003 and was named winemaker in 2014 as the fourth winemaker in the company's history, leads the winemaking program. In her own words: "There is no recipe or formula. My job is to let the vineyards speak and convey the soul of the wine." Her program performs hundreds of small fermentations annually to preserve individual vineyard-block character.

• Nine estate vineyard properties across Napa Valley sub-appellations, established beginning in the late 1980s: Three Palms, Marlee's, Stout, Monitor Ledge, Rector Creek, Patzimaro, Cork Tree, El Veredicto and Wolfe Vineyard
• Three Palms Vineyard: 73.66 acres at 357 feet elevation in the Calistoga sub-appellation, planted to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec on Bale Loam, Cortina Very Stony Loam, Bale Clay Loam and Riverwash soils; source of the flagship Merlot since 1978; acquired by Duckhorn in 2015
• Marlee's Vineyard: 16.43 acres in St. Helena, planted to Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Merlot
• Renée Ary: "There is no recipe or formula. My job is to let the vineyards speak and convey the soul of the wine." Her program performs hundreds of small fermentations annually to preserve individual vineyard-block character

Duckhorn celebrated its 40th harvest in 2017, the same year the 2014 Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was named Wine Spectator's number one Wine of the Year. The winery's Estate House and Tasting Room, on which groundbreaking began in 1999, opened in 2000. Duckhorn released the first vintage of The Discussion, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend, in 2006, and debuted its Chardonnay program in 2012. More recently, the 2019 Monitor Ledge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was ranked number one on Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Top 100 Wines list, and Duckhorn has also received a Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year honor. In 2026 the winery marks its 50th anniversary.

• 2014 Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard: Wine Spectator's number one Wine of the Year, 2017, coinciding with Duckhorn's 40th harvest
• 2019 Monitor Ledge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ranked number one on Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Top 100 Wines list; Duckhorn has also received a Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year honor
• The Discussion, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend, debuted with the 2006 vintage; the Chardonnay program debuted in 2012
• 2026 marks Duckhorn's 50th anniversary; the St. Helena facility closes in April 2026 for a year-long renovation and reopens in Spring 2027

Duckhorn's current release lineup, sold directly through the winery, spans Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and sparkling wine. Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings are produced from Rector Creek, Patzimaro, Monitor Ledge, Three Palms and Cork Tree fruit, each priced at $115, alongside an appellation-designated Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon also priced at $115. The lineup also includes the 2022 Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard Block 5 and the 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard, each priced at $300, and The Discussion, a Napa Valley red wine, priced at $200 for the 2022 vintage.

• 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Three Palms Vineyard, $115; 2023 50th Anniversary Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard, $155
• 2023 Napa Valley Merlot Rector Creek Vineyard, $115; 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Rector Creek Vineyard, $115
• 2022 Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard Block 5, $300; 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard, $300
• 2022 The Discussion Napa Valley Red Wine, $200; 2024 Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay Huichica Hills Vineyard, $65; 2025 50th Anniversary North Coast Sauvignon Blanc, $32

GI Partners invested in the Duckhorn company in 2007, in a deal reportedly valued at $200 million, according to Wine Spectator. TSG Consumer Partners purchased control of the business in 2016 for a reported $600 million, according to Wine Spectator. The Duckhorn Portfolio went public on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol NAPA on March 18, 2021, pricing 20 million shares at $15 each and raising $300 million, with TSG Consumer Partners retaining approximately 78 percent ownership after the offering. Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced its acquisition of The Duckhorn Portfolio on October 7, 2024, and completed the all-cash transaction on December 24, 2024, paying $11.10 per share for a deal valued at approximately $1.95 billion, taking the company private again. At the close of the transaction, the portfolio operated eleven wineries across ten production facilities and eight tasting rooms, with more than 2,200 acres of vineyards across 38 estate properties, and a brand roster including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback and Greenwing. Deirdre Mahlan serves as President and CEO of The Duckhorn Portfolio.

• Ownership timeline: GI Partners invested in 2007 (reportedly $200 million per Wine Spectator); TSG Consumer Partners purchased control in 2016 (reportedly $600 million); public on NYSE:NAPA in 2021 ($15/share, 20 million shares); Butterfly's acquisition announced October 2024 (approximately $1.95 billion)
• Butterfly Equity acquisition: $11.10 per share, approximately $1.95 billion, all-cash, closed December 24, 2024
• At acquisition close: eleven wineries, ten production facilities, eight tasting rooms, over 2,200 acres across 38 estate properties
• Brand portfolio: Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback and Greenwing
• Deirdre Mahlan serves as President and CEO of The Duckhorn Portfolio

Duckhorn Vineyards' tasting room is located at 1000 Lodi Ln, St. Helena, California; the winery's own site lists this location as currently closed for renovation, with the closure beginning in April 2026 and the property scheduled to reopen in Spring 2027. During the closure, tasting experiences relocate to The Duckhorn Collection at Paraduxx, 7257 Silverado Trail, Napa, California. The winery offers curated tastings and culinary pairings, along with exclusive anniversary-year tastings featuring Duckhorn Vineyards and Portfolio wines.

• Primary tasting room: 1000 Lodi Ln, St. Helena, CA 94574; the site lists it as currently closed for renovation, with the closure beginning April 2026 and reopening scheduled for Spring 2027
• Temporary tasting location during renovation: The Duckhorn Collection at Paraduxx, 7257 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558
• Experiences offered: curated tastings and culinary pairings; exclusive anniversary-year tastings featuring Duckhorn Vineyards and Portfolio wines; wine club pickup service

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.duckhorn.com/, https://www.duckhorn.com/pages/history, https://www.duckhorn.com/pages/vineyards, https://www.duckhorn.com/pages/winemaking, https://www.duckhorn.com/pages/visit, https://www.duckhorn.com/collections/duckhorn-vineyards-current-release. Secondary sources: Wine Spectator, the Press Democrat, and Duckhorn Portfolio's SEC filings. Last verified 2026-09-08. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.