How did Margaret Duckhorn die? Co founder of popular Napa Winery cause of death explained

Margaret Duckhorn

Margaret Duckhorn, co-founder of Duckhorn Vineyards from Napa Valley passed away on November 26, 2022. Let’s see how the Co-founder of the popular Napa Winery died and Margaret Duckhorn cause of death in detail.

How did Margaret Duckhorn die?

Margaret Duckhorn, co-founder of one of California’s most well-known wineries, Duckhorn Vineyards, died on November 26 at the age of 83. 

The Duckhorn Portfolio, the company she founded, did not disclose a cause of death. Duckhorn Vineyards confirmed the Margaret’s death and the death statement reads,

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Margaret Duckhorn, our company’s co-founder, passed away this weekend. Margaret was an iconic and pioneering figure in the modern Napa Valley winemaking era and a pillar of our local community. Her family shared with us that she passed away peacefully in her sleep.”

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

Margaret Duckhorn cause of death

The co-founder of Duckhorn Vineyards, Margaret Duckhorn passed away Saturday at the age of 83, peacefully in her St. Helena, California home. Margaret Duckhorn cause of death is natural, and it is due to age related issues.

She worked for 40 years to establish Duckhorn Vineyards’ reputation for quality and excellence. Margaret was a well-known member of the Napa Valley wine community, known for her dedication to the industry and sense of generosity.

An online remembrance board has been created for anyone wishing to share a message or condolences with Margaret’s family. https://bit.ly/MargaretDuckhorn

Who was Margaret Duckhorn?

Margaret Duckhorn served as a founder of Women for WineSense. She was a former board member of the American Institute of Wine & Food. 

Margaret was a previous president of the Napa Valley Vintners Association, and the former chairman of the board of the California Wine Institute.

Margaret had a remarkable talent that contributed to Napa Valley’s recognition on a global scale. Together with her ex-husband, Dan Duckhorn, she built the Duckhorn Portfolio, one of California’s only publicly traded wineries. Duckhorn emerged from a tiny family business into one of the most well-known wine brands in the world. 

Duckhorn contributed to a nationwide appetite for Merlot, which was unpopular when the winery first began producing it but blossomed into one of the most popular wines in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s.

Many Napa Valley wineries were using Merlot as a blending grape in the late 1970s. But, Margaret and Dan believed that this exquisite varietal was underestimated in North America and advocated for its potential in California as a fine standalone wine.

Margaret’s Career:

Margaret, who was born on Governor’s Island in New York, grew up in a military family and spent her early years traveling extensively. She studied at the Munich campus of the University of Maryland, in Munich, Germany.

After tasting the unusual wines of the Mosel area, Margaret initially developed an interest in wine. Margaret returned to the United States in 1963 and earned her B.S., R.N., and P.H.N. degrees from the University of California, San Francisco. 

She worked as a public health nurse for the city of Berkeley after graduating before starting a family in the mid-1960s. Margaret was very involved in the day-to-day activities of her winery, manually sorting the fruit and assisting winemaker Tom Rinaldi throughout the blending process. 

Margaret focused on marketing and global public relations, raising Duckhorn Vineyards’ profile and serving as a champion for the Napa Valley wine industry. She was instrumental in the creation of Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Migration, an improved Decoy lineup, and Canvasback in Washington State.  

Contribution to Napa Valley:

Margaret was very active in her community’s charity activities and a steadfast supporter of Napa Valley on an industry-wide basis. She worked both locally and internationally to protect and promote Napa Valley. 

Margaret said, “There’s a feeling you get when you prepare a meal with love and serve it to close friends and family. Everyone is enjoying themselves and you have that wonderful sense of camaraderie. This is what Duckhorn has represented to me over the years.”

Her dedication developed as the industry expanded. Margaret saw Napa as her home, a place where she had chosen to raise a family, thus her stewardship and dedication to the future of Napa Valley were real and felt. 

For her, her family, and her community, Napa Valley was home. Margaret is survived by her three children,  Kellie, John, and David, as well as seven grandkids and two siblings.

Tributes to Margaret:

WineTasting.com tweeted,

Napa Valley mourns the passing of Margaret Duckhorn. RIP

Owen Bargreen posted,

In Memoriam: Margaret Duckhorn, Co-Founder of Duckhorn Vineyards. We have some sad news to share out of the Napa Valley today as Margaret Duckhorn has sadly passed away this weekend at the age of 83.

Canvasback posted,

Margaret Duckhorn, our company’s co-founder, passed away this weekend. Margaret was an iconic and pioneering figure in the modern Napa Valley winemaking era and a pillar of our local community. Her family shared with us that she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Delecious Food posted,

Margaret Duckhorn, co-founder of one of California’s best-known wineries, Duckhorn Vineyards, died Saturday at the age of 83. 

Ken Avedisian posted,

I just heard the news about Margaret Duckhorn passing. She was such an inspiration to me personally. I always made it a point to stop in and see here when I was in Napa. Today, I raise my glass to Margaret. Thank you for your kindness and all that you have done for the wine industry and Napa Vally. You will be missed.

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