duckhorn

Duckhorn Vineyards Wins the Readers' Choice Award for Best Domestic Red Wine

Filed under: Wine

Duckhorn Vineyards, located in St. Helena, Ca., is the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best Domestic Red Wine.

Co-founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, Duckhorn Vineyards has spent nearly 35 years establishing itself as one of North America's premier producers of Bordeaux varietal wines. 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.

Duckhorn made an early decision to focus on the production of Merlot. Though many Napa Valley wineries were using Merlot as a blending grape in the late 1970's, few were exploring the potential of this varietal as a stand-alone wine. A great fan of Merlot since traveling to St. Emilion and Pomerol, Dan Duckhorn felt that this elegant varietal was under appreciated in North America. "I liked the softness, the seductiveness, the color," says Duckhorn. "The fact that it went with a lot of different foods; it wasn't so bold, didn't need to age so long, and it had this velvety texture to it. It seemed to me to be a wonderful wine to just enjoy. I became enchanted with Merlot."

Gallery: Duckhorn Wine Company

Tags: awards-main, Cabernet Sauvignon, California wine, duckhorn, duckhorn vineyards, DuckhornVineyards, luxist-awards, merlot, St. Helena, winner-wine, winner-wines, winners-wine, winners-wines

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Auction Napa Valley

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions

It's time once again for Napa's annual big wine auction, Auction Napa Valley. Last year's auction brought in over $10 million with items like a walk-on part in Desperate Housewives and a chance to purchase the final collaboration of the Mondavi brothers. This year's main event is scheduled for June 3 but for the first time, you don't have to be there to take part in the fun. There are a variety of lots online. Want five liters of the 2003 Amuse Bouche? How about a package from Larry Bird and Mitch Cosentino that includes autographed bottles of their Legends Meritage Red, a signed Larry Bird basketball and tickets to an Indiana Pacers game? There are all sorts of lots for wine lovers whether you are looking to increase your cellar or experience life as a winemaker for the day.

Of course if you bid online you miss out on one fabulous party hosted by the one-and-only Ryan Seacrest as well as the more blockbuster lots which tie together wine with events like a private concert from Alan Parsons, being read to by Isabel Allende or a walk-on part in the Geena Davis show "Commander In Chief." The full weekend package which starts Thursday with a hospitality event and includes the Friday auction and festival, the Saturday Good Morning Napa event, all of Saturday night's events and the Sunday open houses at wineries throughout the area as well as a catalog and bidding paddle. The package costs $7,500.

[via Napa Valley Register]

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Tags: amuse bouche, duckhorn, far niente, geena davis, napa valley, NapaValley, ryan seacrest, wine, wine auction