Daniel Duckhorn, Napa Valley merlot’s greatest champion, dies at 87

Daniel J. Duckhorn, who helped elevate Napa Valley merlot to world-class status, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, from congestive heart failure, his family announced. He was 87.

Duckhorn, who co-founded Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa in 1976 with his then-wife Margaret Duckhorn and other investors, was considered a pioneer in the American luxury wine market. Known across the industry as “Mr. Merlot,” a title bestowed by former New York Times wine critic Frank Prial, Duckhorn championed merlot at a...