Interview with Dan Duckhorn

We would like to introduce you to our Chairman and Founder, Dan Duckhorn. We interviewed him about his work, his life, and his passions.

What did you do before you got into the wine business?
Well, I have been in the wine industry for more than three decades now, so this answer is going back awhile, but originally I worked in the financial world. This included corporate finance, commercial banking and venture capital. As part of this work, I managed a venture investment in a Napa Valley grapevine nursery and vineyard management company. This helped me to develop a fascination with the industry, which ultimately led to a career change and the founding of Duckhorn Vineyards.

Why did you decide to start your own winery?
As part of my management of the nursery and vineyard management company, our family had settled in the Napa Valley. I loved the pace of the valley and its quality of life. When its investors decided to liquidate the company (Vineyard Consulting Corporation), I joined with a group of business associates and friends and we bought its assets. This was the basis for starting the winery. As a businessman, I could clearly see that the demand for premium grapes was increasing, and I believed this portended a growing interest and demand for premium wines in the United States. On a personal level, starting a winery allowed me to pursue my growing passion for wine. It also was extremely satisfying to make something I was proud of and to put our family's name on it.

What attracted you to the Merlot varietal?
My travels to Pomerol and St. Emilion with a friend and vintner made me a great fan of Merlot. I appreciated the softness and seductiveness of Merlot, its color and inviting flavors. Though many Napa Valley wineries were blending with Merlot, very few were seriously exploring its potential as a great stand-alone varietal. I believed it was a wonderful grape with the potential to appeal to both experienced wine lovers and people just beginning to explore fine wine.

What has changed in the 30 years you have been involved with Duckhorn Vineyards?
While the philosophy that has always guided Duckhorn Vineyards has remained very consistent, there are many things about the Napa Valley and the wine industry that have changed. St. Helena has grown from a small, sleepy town to a vibrant little city. As the number of premium wineries has grown in California's coastal regions, so has acceptance of great California wines. Part of that involved viticulture advances including greater knowledge of proper vineyard layout, canopy configurations, crop levels, and clonal/rootstock combinations. There also has been an amazing growth of interest in various varietal, blended and site-specific wines. And I guess it's safe to say 30 years later that consumer interest in premium Napa Valley wines greatly exceeded all of our expectations.

What do you see in the future for Duckhorn Wine Company?
We will continue to focus on the things that got us to where we are: building personal relationships, dedicating ourselves to the highest quality, offering excellent customer service, and producing a breadth of varietal offerings while maintaining the integrity of our three winery estates, and, most important, fostering high employee morale.

What would you consider to be the most enjoyable part of your job?
I love to travel. I have been to every major city in the U.S. on behalf of Duckhorn and have met so many wonderful people who share a common interest in great food and wine. It's great to have that immediate bond with people.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
There are so many great pairings. Some dishes I love with Cabernet Sauvignon, others with Merlot, and some with Pinot Noir. One thing I do know is that good friends and a Napa Valley summer evening make even the best food and wine pairing taste even better.

You travel a lot for the company; what are some of your favorite places to visit?
There are so many: Maui, Camden, Chicago, Seattle, Charleston, Baja, Boise, Santa Fe, and Barcelona. As part of Duckhorn Vineyards' upcoming lot for Auction Napa Valley 2008, I'll be going to one of my absolute favorite places, Triple Creek Ranch in Montana. It's a part of a five-day wine-lovers' odyssey that starts in the Napa Valley and goes to the mountains of Montana. It will also allow me to squeeze in a little fly fishing.

What do you like to do when you are not working?
If I could choose one thing, it would be dry fly fishing on the Selway River in Idaho.