Duckhorn 2 Bottles of 3L 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon with Wooden Box

Napa Valley Winegrowing and Winemaking Philosophy

At Duckhorn Vineyards, we believe that wines are made in the vineyard. While this may not be a new concept, it is one that we take very seriously. Therefore, in the late 1980s, we began to locate and purchase vineyard properties in recognized Napa Valley areas in order to acquire sufficient vineyard land to meet most of our long-term grape needs. Our Napa Valley Estate Vineyard portfolio is now comprised of seven unique properties. Each site produces grapes with distinct attributes that reflect the variations in soil, terrain, microclimate, and exposure. For us, these Estate Vineyards convey a special sense of place and a growing tradition. Because of this, we take immense pride in their cultivation. We carefully selected a dedicated team to manage our Estate properties and have an in-house farming crew comprised of full-time and part-time employees who farm all of our Estates.

In addition to our Estate Vineyards, we work with a number of independent growers throughout the Napa Valley. We work closely with each of our partners to ensure that the fruit they produce meets the quality standards we require for our wines. The exposure to a wide range of viticulture techniques allows our team to exchange new farming ideas with our growers, which he can then apply to our Estate properties.

Our farming team works in unison with Executive Winemaker Bill Nancarrow whose winemaking philosophy also has its foundation in the vineyards. During the harvest season, he spends countless hours among the vines tasting grapes and gauging ripeness. Although the fruit is sampled and analyzed in the lab, Bill prefers to make more sensory picking decisions based on what he tastes and sees.