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Duckhorn extends Napa holdings with two acquisitions

24 January 2022 By Arabella Mileham

US luxury wine company Duckhorn Portfolio has extended its holdings in Napa Valley by more than 20 hectares (ha), with the acquisition of two vineyards, in order to bolster demand for both white and Burgundian-style cool climate wines.

The new additions comprise 16ha (40 acres) of vineyards in Los Carneros from Stanly Ranch vineyard, next to its 4he vineyard and Migration Winery. Although the vineyards date back to the late 1800s, the two 8ha parcels of clay loam soils were planted in 2001 with Burgundin varietals – five clones of Pinot Noir and three clones of Chardonnay – and benefit from the a cool climate influence of nearby San Pablo Bay.

It is also buying a 4ha site (10 acres) in St Helena, from Red Wine Vineyards, which has been a source of its Sauvignon Blanc for the last 15 years. The plot is currently planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Merlot, but the Merlot blocks will be replanted with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to support the growing demand for these two white varieties under its Duckhorn range.

The company is also taking out a long lease on a plot adjacent to the Red Wine site, from the Alton Family Vineyards, which will be renamed the Wolfe Vineyard.

The acquisitions will boost Duckhorn Portfolio Estate to around 120ha (298 acres) in Napa Valley.

“As our portfolio has evolved to include ten renowned luxury wineries, our commitment to having a robust estate vineyard program continues to be central to ensuring the exceptional quality of our wines,” Alex Ryan, CEO and president of The Duckhorn Portfolio said

The company also already owns more than 200ha (500 acres) in AVA’s along the North Coast as well as 33ha in the Central Coast appellation of Mt. Harlan and a small 8ha plot in Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA. It also owns eight wineries, including Central Coast Pinot Noir producer Calera and Sonoma-based Pinot estate Kosta Browne, and brands including Canvasback, Decoy, Migration and Paraduxx and Postmark.

Last year, the company launched on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after declaring its intention to go public. Since 2016 the Duckhorn Wine Company has been owned by San Francisco-based private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners.

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