Napa Valley Estate Vineyard Portfolio
In the late 1980s we set out 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 nine 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.
Napa Valley Vineyard Map
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Three Palms Vineyard
Elevation
357 feet
Acreage/Size
73.66 acres
Varietals
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec
Sub-appellation
Calistoga
Soil Type
Bale Loam, Cortina Very Stony Loam, Bale Clay Loam, and Riverwash
Three Palms Vineyard (2015) Since our inaugural vintage in 1978, we have been proud to craft a vineyard-designate bottling from Three Palms which has become a consistent benchmark for New World Merlot. Named for its three iconic palm trees, the warm, up valley vineyard features lean soils that cause the vines to send their roots deep in search of nutrients, producing an intense, age-worthy wine with complex fruit and mineral layers. Three Palms is covered by volcanic stones, which absorb the sun’s heat during the day and radiate the heat back to the vines at night, protecting against frost and helping to ripen the fruit.
Marlee's Vineyard
Elevation
246 feet
Acreage/Size
16.43 acres
Varietals
Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot
Sub-appellation
St. Helena
Soil Type
Bale Clay Loam, Bale Loam and Forward-Kidd Complex
Marlee’s Vineyard (1976) Named in honor of Margaret Duckhorn, Marlee’s is home to our Estate House and is a treasured part of our portfolio as it was the first vineyard we planted. The Napa River marks the western border and winter floods have deposited layers of silty river-bottom soil over time, making for a rich, well-drained sandy-loam profile. The site is ideally suited to grow Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon; the grapes from this site are the backbone of our white wine program. There couldn’t be a more optimal situation than harvesting grapes only yards away from the winery—this proximity allows the fruit to be picked at the peak of ripeness.
Stout Vineyard
Elevation
2,080 feet
Acreage/Size
35.45 acres
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Grenache
Sub-appellation
Howell Mountain
Soil Type
Aiken Loam and Boomer-Forward-Felta Complex
Stout Vineyard (1998) is located at approximately 2,080 feet in the Howell Mountain appellation—one of the Napa Valley’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions. As a result of its topography, soils, and climate, Howell Mountain has distinctly different grape-growing conditions than the valley floor. It is here, on the steep slopes of Stout, where the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in our Estate program grow. Nearly three decades old, these vines produce grapes offering rare character and complexity.
Monitor Ledge Vineyard
Elevation
322 feet
Acreage/Size
36.88 acres
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc
Sub-appellation
Calistoga
Soil Type
Bale Clay Loam and Riverwash
Monitor Ledge Vineyard (1992) Located on the alluvial fan of Selby Creek, this site is composed of cobblestones and a gravelly sandy loam. Water drains rapidly in the lean soil, causing the vines to struggle to grow, thereby bringing about the fruit intensity and structure that make the wines from this area so unique. Monitor Ledge benefits from excellent sun exposure that consistently produces ideal ripening. The vineyard is often the first we harvest and brings us an indication of the quality of the vintage to come.
Rector Creek Vineyard
Elevation
200 feet
Acreage/Size
34.78 acres
Varietals
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Petit Verdot
Sub-appellation
Yountville
Soil Type
Cortina Very Stony Loam, Bale Clay Loam, Boomer-Forward-Delta Complex, Riverwash
Rector Creek Vineyard (1994) is located north of Yountville along the Silverado Trail adjacent to the Paraduxx winery. The unique climate combined with the rocky alluvial soils creates excellent growing conditions for the vines. The 39-acre site is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. The wines from this vineyard exhibit abundant dark red fruit characteristics of black raspberry and hints of strawberry.
Patzimaro Vineyard
Elevation
322 feet
Acreage/Size
14.81 acres
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Sub-appellation
St. Helena
Soil Type
Bale Clay Loam, Pleasanton Loam and Cortina Very Gravelly Loam
Patzimaro Vineyard (1989) is named after the hometown in Mexico of the Hurtado family, longtime cellar and vineyard workers for Duckhorn Vineyards, in honor of their hard work and dedication. Located at the base of Spring Mountain on the west side of St. Helena. The site has high daytime temperatures that fully ripen the grapes and cool evening breezes and fog that allow the fruit to retain the natural acidity needed to make balanced, elegantly structured wines. The wines from this vineyard consistently display classic characteristics of cassis, earth and black olive.
Cork Tree Vineyard
Elevation
133 feet
Acreage/Size
15.02 acres
Varietals
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Sub-appellation
N/A
Soil Type
Haire Loam and Yolo Loam
Cork Tree Vineyard (2005) is located just off the Silverado Trail in Napa and is the southernmost and coolest of our Estate vineyards. This parcel meets all the criteria for an ideal Merlot vineyard: great soil with good drainage and depth, a western hillside exposure, and a location in a desired winegrowing area. This unique site yields beautifully structured and sophisticated wines that are as elegant as they are inviting. Cork Tree Vineyard is named for the prominent Cork Oak that grows majestically among the vines; its presence in the vineyard brings a sense of connection from the vines to the bottled wine.
El Veredicto / The Verdict
Elevation
10' - 50' ft. above sea level
Acreage/Size
47.72 acres
Varietals
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Marsanne, Viognier
Sub-appellation
Carneros
Soil Type
146: Haire Loam, 2-9% slope
One of the most acclaimed vineyards in the Los Carneros region of Napa Valley, the two 20-acre parcels were part of the historic Stanly Ranch vineyard planted in 2001. Directly adjacent to Migration Winery, its Haire clay loam soils and cool climate influenced by the site’s proximity to San Pablo Bay, makes it ideal for Burgundian varietals.
Wolfe Vineyard
Elevation
Elevation- Sits at ~260 ft. above sea level, adjacent to the Napa River
Acreage/Size
13.12 acres
Varietals
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Merlot
Sub-appellation
Napa Valley/ St. Helena
Soil Type
181: Yolo Loam, 0-10% slope
Located off the Silverado Trail in North St. Helena, Duckhorn has been contracting Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon fruit from the Wolfe Vineyard for over 15 years. The vineyard produces consistently high-quality Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, and now we have the opportunity to bring it into our estate portfolio. The climate in St. Helena and the loamy soils in this vineyard lends to the growing world-class Sauvignon Blanc.