Editor’s Be aware: The next obituary of Margaret Duckhorn was offered by representatives of her firm following her passing, and is run right here unedited.
Margaret L. Duckhorn, the cofounder of The Duckhorn Portfolio and a pacesetter within the Napa Valley neighborhood, died Saturday. Margaret Duckhorn was an iconic and pioneering determine within the trendy Napa Valley winemaking period, who performed a pivotal function in establishing Merlot as one among North America’s hottest varietal wines. She handed away peacefully in St. Helena, CA on the age of 83.
Margaret Duckhorn helped to alter the face of the U.S. wine {industry}, when she after which husband, Dan Duckhorn, based
in 1976 and made their inaugural classic of Napa Valley Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978. Although many Napa Valley wineries have been utilizing Merlot as a mixing grape within the late seventies, Margaret and Dan believed that this elegant varietal was underappreciated in North America and championed its potential in California as an awesome standalone wine. This determination in the end established Merlot as one of many New World’s hottest and revered varietal wines.
Born on Governor’s Island, New York, Margaret was raised in a navy household and traveled extensively in her youth. Finding out on the College of Maryland campus in Munich, Germany, Margaret first turned considering wine after being uncovered to the Mosel area’s distinctive wines. Returning to the USA, Margaret obtained her B.S., R.N. and P.H.N. levels from the College of California at San Francisco in 1963. After commencement, she labored as a public well being nurse for town of Berkeley earlier than beginning a household within the mid Sixties.
In 1976, Margaret, Dan and a bunch of investor mates based Duckhorn Vineyards. From the start, Margaret took a particularly energetic function within the day-to-day operations of the vineyard, hand sorting the fruit and dealing alongside winemaker Tom Rinaldi throughout mixing. Later, Margaret started specializing in advertising and worldwide public relations, turning into a robust voice for Duckhorn Vineyards, and a champion for the Napa Valley winegrowing neighborhood. Through the years, Margaret additionally helped to outline Duckhorn Vineyards’ philosophy and core set of values. “This valley is our residence,” she as soon as mentioned. “We reside right here. Our kids reside right here. We acknowledge the significance of taking good care of this outstanding place, and of giving again to the neighborhood that has given us a lot.”
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All through her profession, Margaret continued to be very energetic within the firm guiding Duckhorn Vineyards. She performed a key function in establishing Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Migration, an enhanced Decoy lineup and Canvasback in Washington State. She was additionally extremely concerned on a philanthropic degree in her neighborhood, and a robust advocate for Napa Valley on an industry-wide degree, working each domestically and globally to guard and promote the area. She was one of many unique members of Girls for WineSense, a previous board member of the American Institute of Wine & Meals, previous president of the Napa Valley Vintners Affiliation and previous chairman of the board of California Wine Institute.
In 2007, when Duckhorn Wine Firm was bought to GI Companions, Margaret stayed on as director. In 2016, when TSG Client Companions acquired Duckhorn from GI, Margaret retired from the board, however continued to stay passionate in regards to the success of The Duckhorn Portfolio till her passing. As a testomony to the enduring significance and enchantment of the corporate which she helped to construct from the bottom up, in March 2021, The Duckhorn Portfolio turned the primary wine firm in virtually 20 years to go public.
Alex Ryan, president and CEO of The Duckhorn Portfolio remembers Margaret Duckhorn, “Margaret embodied so many beliefs of our firm, she was form, gracious, collaborative and charitable. Within the {industry}, and our neighborhood, she all the time led by instance, and instilled this outstanding sense of camaraderie, which made her an extremely efficient chief with a present for empowering individuals and constructing consensus. She was deeply liked and universally revered. Her passing is a real loss to everybody who knew her, our neighborhood, and the {industry}, which she helped to pioneer.”
Whereas companies can be personal, a remembrance board has been created on-line, and a guide can be accessible on the Duckhorn Winery’s Property Home and the tasting rooms of the Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Canvasback and Calera wineries later this week for anybody wishing to share a message or condolences. The books will then be given to the Duckhorn household.
Margaret Duckhorn leaves three kids, Kellie, John and David all of whom are nonetheless energetic within the wine {industry}. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and two siblings.
In lieu of flowers, the household suggests donations to the Napa Valley Neighborhood Basis.
