Duckhorn Vineyards

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Duckhorn Vineyards
Location St. Helena, California, USA
Appellation Napa Valley AVA
Founded 1976
first Vintage 1978
Key people Dan Duckhorn, Founder and CEO; Bill Nancarrow, Winemaker
Cases/yr 100,000+
Known for Three Palms Vineyard Merlot
Varietals merlot, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc
Website http://www.duckhornvineyards.com/
Distribution USA
Tasting by appointment only open to public

Duckhorn Vineyards is a boutique winery in St. Helena, California specializing in ultra-premium Merlot.

Contents

[edit] History

Founder Dan Duckhorn, a Santa Rosa native and Berkeley graduate, toured the Pomerol and St. Emilion in the Bordeaux region of France in the mid-1970s with Ric Forman,[1] who as winemaker of Sterling Vineyards had introduced vintage-dated Merlot wine to California. He returned to California with his then-wife Margaret (the couple divorced in 2000) to promote a new market for Merlot. They founded Duckhorn Vineyards in 1976[1].

Production grew from 1,600 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in 1978 to more than 20,000 cases in 2006 (the company does not disclose exact production figures). Beginning in 1988 Duckhorn purchased seven estate vineyards on Howell Mountain and the valley floor,[2] for a total of 168 acres (0.7 km²) in Napa Valley, and four vineyards totallying 153 acres (0.6 km²) in the Anderson Valley, Mendocino County.[1]

In July, 2007, GI Partners, a private equity firm, purchased a controlling interest in Duckhorn Wine Company and with it Duckhorn's various brands and operations[3] at a valuation believed to exceed $250 million.[4][1]

[edit] Wines

Duckhorn Vineyards produces several single-vineyard Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as a highly regarded but less expensive Sauvignon Blanc. In 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle proclaimed Dan Duckhorn its "Winemaker of the Year" and named four of his wines to its prestigious list of "Top 100 Wines of 2005." In addition to Duckhorn, Duckhorn Wine Company also operates Goldeneye, a maker of Pinot Noir in Anderson Valley, and Paraduxx, a blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon made at a winery on the Silverado Trail between Yountville and Oakville, California.[5]. The company also labels under the names "Decoy" and "Migration." Prices range from $30 to approximately $100.[1]

The winery's tasting room is open 10am - 4pm, seven days a week. Reservations are recommended and can be made through the winery's web site. Will usually allow on-the-spot walk-in appointments for groups less than six.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e James Laube and Daniel Sogg. "New Investor Takes Control of Duckhorn Wine Co.", Wine Spectator. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  2. ^ Continuing the Tradition. Duckhorn Vineyards. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  3. ^ Steve Heimoff. "Duckhorn Wine Company Sells Controlling Share", Wine Enthusiast, July, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. 
  4. ^ Jon Bonné. "Napa Valley Stunner - Famed Winery Sold", San Francisco Chronicle, August 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. 
  5. ^ Linda Murphy. "Winemaker of the Year:Duckhorn Takes Wing", San Francisco Chronicle, December 8, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. 

[edit] External links