Co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has spent nearly fifty years establishing itself as one of North America’s premier producers of Napa Valley wines. Although many Napa Valley wineries were using Merlot as a blending grape in the late seventies, few were exploring the potential of this varietal as a stand-alone wine. A great fan of Merlot, Dan Duckhorn felt that this elegant varietal was underappreciated in North America, and encouraged his staff to develop a premium stand-alone Napa Valley Merlot.

From its modest inaugural vintage of 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 800 cases of Merlot in 1978, to its addition of Sauvignon Blanc in 1982, Duckhorn Vineyards has crafted a tradition of quality and excellence that continues today. Today, the winery's seven estate vineyards are located in alluvial fans of the Napa Valley as well as on the coveted slopes of Howell Mountain. Winemaker Renee Ary has numerous vineyard blocks to choose from, each offering markedly different flavor profiles.

Renee focuses on crafting texturally driven, terroir-inspired wines from a vineyard program that includes their estate sites and enduring relationships with premier growers in Napa Valley. For Renée and her team, this means an artisanal approach that includes performing hundreds of small fermentations each vintage to preserve the charm and character of each site. As its Napa Valley estate properties continue to mature under Renée’s stewardship, the winery will continue creating world-class wines from exceptional vineyards.