Duckhorn Portfolio - The ultimate membership for luxury wines

There are many beautiful wines made in the Napa Valley with so many wine club programs to choose from. What makes the Duckhorn Portfolio membership so special? Here are my top five reasons to become a member with us.

5. The People

Get to know our winemakers, members of our production teams, and tasting room Wine Educators at over a dozen events we host throughout the year (members receive special pricing). They range from large scale release parties, like our very popular Discussion Release & Derby Party every May or one of our intimate Winemaker Dinner’s we host throughout the year. Learn more about our winemaking philosophies, from grape to glass and the stories behind each wine. Travel with us to other countries to explore historic wine regions and meet new friends along the way with one of our Cruise’s. We set sail this May to Spain & Portugal on our 4th Cruise to date!

4. The Places

Relax, taste and enjoy our new release wines at five of our Tasting Rooms. First is our Duckhorn Vineyards tasting room in the heart of St. Helena, where you can enjoy classic new world Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. Just 20 minutes south of Duckhorn off  the Silverado Trail is Paraduxx, our house of blends. Head up north to Mendocino and experience powerful Pinot Noir at Goldeneye.

Live near the Central Coast of California? Stop by Calera in Hollister (east of Monterey) and enjoy the beautiful and serene views of Mt. Harlan while enjoying premium Pinot Noir. Happen to be in Walla Walla? Come by our newest tasting room addition – Canvasback and savor luxury Cabernet from Red Mountain. As a member you receive tasting benefits at all five unique locations.

3. The Experiences

Once you get to your favorite Duckhorn Portfolio location, experience some of our intimate Elevated Tastings to enhance your senses and awaken your pallet. At Paraduxx we offer our Blend Seminar, which dives deeper in the art of our blends. At Duckhorn, join us for our Wine of The Year Tasting, and taste 2017’s Wine Spectator #1 Wine of The Year – 2014 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard, along with other wines from this iconic location.

2. The Service

As a member, you receive exclusive access to our Membership Concierge to curate your ultimate day of tastings and assist with your trip planning. Our Wine Advisors are here for you to create your ideal wine cellar. Gain access to rare library and large format wines and find that perfect gift for any special occasion.

1. 7 Wine Clubs in One!

Members receive access and benefits across our entire portfolio of wines. No matter your club preference, you have a one-stop shopping experience at Duckhorn, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy, Canvasback & Calera…all at Duckhorn.com. You just need one account to access all wines. You can also customize your club shipments to include any wines from our portfolio. We have a plethora of wines for every occasions, season and palate.

If you enjoy our wines, we invite you to become a member with us and take advantage of the many great benefits of our portfolio. We hope to host you this summer at one of our five tasting rooms and share our love for great wines with you.

Cheers to you and yours!

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir & Sparkling

We get a lot of questions this time of year asking which wine(s) go best with Thanksgiving. Dinner parties can be tricky enough when it comes to wine pairings, but especially with this holiday. Not only do you have an abundance of family and friends with many palates to please, you are also working with many different ingredients, spices and textures. Everything comes together on one plate and each dish starts to merge into one – there is a lot going on. So which wine pairs well with all of the different dishes? The answer is Pinot Noir!

Why is Pinot Noir perfect for your holiday feast?

Pinot Noir is a beautifully balanced medium-bodied wine with bright acidity. It will be soft and subtle enough for the lighter dishes on your table, but it also has just the right amount of structure, fruit and supple tannins to hold up to bigger dishes.

When it comes to my family, the side dishes are the star of the meal. We tend to stick to the classic Thanksgiving dishes (no turducken on our table)! But every year I like to try at least one new side dish. Sometimes it works and sometimes it’s a one-hit wonder. I tried this recipe out a few years ago and it has now become a family staple: Brussel sprouts with pancetta and lemon with fig vinaigrette. Brussel sprouts in general can by a finicky dish to pair, but the integrated components of this dish complement Pinot Noir well. The bright acidity from the lemon matches the acidity in the wine, so it highlights both the dish and the wine without overwhelming either. The savory notes from the caramelization of the brussel sprouts and saltiness from the pancetta highlight the red fruit and soft tannin structure of the wine.

To take your festivities to the next level, consider a festive Sparkling Rosé, like our Goldeneye Sparkling Brut Rosé (a blend of predominately Pinot Noir with Chardonnay). I firmly believe that any wine pairing problem can always be solved with bubbles! The Sparkling Brut Rosé has such great acidity with just a touch of residual sugar that it brightens and lightens your heavier dishes, (which let’s face it, most holiday dishes tend to be)! You can serve this wine at every course. From popping a cork upon your guest’s arrival through dessert, it is a great way to to complement your holiday gathering.

Whether you are hosting your own Thanksgiving or wondering what wine to bring to your host, the wine to remember is Pinot Noir!

We have a diverse Pinot Noir portfolio, but here are some of my personal favorites. Try one or try them all and of course, Happy Thanksgiving!

• Migration Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir Drum Canyon Vineyard 
• Calera Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard 
• Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Confluence Vineyard – Hillside 
• Goldeneye Anderson Valley Sparkling Brut Rosé

Sasha B.
Membership & Customer Service Manager