Latest news with #Duckhorn
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two men charged in two separate stranger attacks in Vancouver
Two men have been charged in two separate stranger attacks in Vancouver, police announced Tuesday. In one case, a man was charged after a woman was violently attacked, robbed and sexually assaulted in a Stanley Park bathroom on Monday. Vancouver police were called to Second Beach on Monday just before 11 a.m. after a witness spotted a man entering the women's change room at the pool. Officers who arrived at the pool found a woman in her 40s inside the change room who had been robbed and assaulted. She was taken to hospital for treatment. Officers searched the area and a suspect was arrested nearby. Hartley Ronald Duckhorn, 35, has been charged with assault by choking, unlawful confinement, sexual assault with a weapon, robbery and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. Duckhorn remains in custody while awaiting a bail hearing. Meanwhile, another man has been charged following a stranger attack in downtown Vancouver last week. Police said a 70-year-old man was walking near Homer and West Pender streets around 3 p.m. on May 16 when a stranger suddenly approached and knocked him to the ground, causing the victim to hit his head. The suspect then walked off without helping the victim. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment. Police in the area were able to track down the suspect later that day on Granville Street. Derrick James McFeeters, 40, is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm. He also remains in custody while awaiting a bail hearing. sip@ Axe-wielding suspect out on bail within hours of Vancouver stranger attack Man charged in two separate killings after joint VPD-IHIT investigation
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Duckhorn discontinued this classic Napa wine brand. What will happen to its flashy new tasting room?
This week, the Duckhorn Portfolio announced plans to phase out several wine brands, including Paraduxx. But the timing couldn't have been worse for the 30-year-old Napa Valley winery: Paraduxx was set to reveal a major, multi-year renovation of its tasting room in June. The news has ignited uncertainty over the future of Paraduxx's tasting room and winery, which sits on some of the most premium Cabernet Sauvignon land in Napa Valley. While Duckhorn said it will close three tasting rooms next month — Migration in Napa, Sonoma-Cutrer in Windsor and another in Washington — Paraduxx was not on the list. Paraduxx has been working on its luxe and modern transformation — complete with a massive new patio — for years. In 2020, Napa County approved the winery's proposal to increase its annual production capacity by 50%, increase annual winery visitation by 87% and remodel its hospitality spaces. But last fall, just as Paraduxx was hitting the final stretch of construction, Duckhorn sold to private equity firm Butterfly Equity. Once the winery revamp wraps up next month, the tasting room will continue to host tastings of Paraduxx; even though it has stopped producing wine, it needs to move through its remaining inventory. But the space will also offer visitors add-on tastings of Duckhorn's Pinot Noir stalwarts: Anderson Valley's Goldeneye, Central Coast Pinot Noir legend Calera and Sonoma's Kosta Browne. In a statement to the Chronicle, the company said this will 'enable club members and fans of our wineries to experience more of the wines that they love at one of Napa Valley's premier winery locations.' A much bigger change will take place later. In 2026, timed with Duckhorn Vineyards' 50th anniversary, the company will close its storied Lodi Lane tasting room in St. Helena for a year-long renovation. Paraduxx will become the new hub for Duckhorn Vineyards visits; when the Lodi Lane tasting room reopens in 2027, it will host higher-end Duckhorn tastings and events while the Paraduxx site will focus on more casual, entry-level options. The Paraduxx estate will continue to offer tastings of Duckhorn's other brands. Paraduxx was a radical concept when Duckhorn founders Dan and Margaret Duckhorn launched it in 1994. Focused on unconventional blends — crossing Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon with outsiders like Zinfandel — it represented the experimental nature of Napa Valley compared to its Old World counterparts. In 2000, winemaker Dave Phinney took a similar approach with his edgy wine brand the Prisoner, crafting an unusual blend of mostly Zinfandel and Cabernet, just like Paraduxx's flagship. But while the Prisoner took off, selling to Constellation Brands for roughly $285 million in 2016, Paraduxx never fully broke out of Duckhorn's shadow. The winery, alongside several other brands Duckhorn will phase out, was 'underperforming' and accounted for just 3.9% of Duckhorn's gross profit, the company said. Paraduxx is set on Duckhorn's famed Rector Creek Vineyard, just north of Yountville and right off the Silverado Trail. 'It's a spectacular piece of dirt. That ground is some of the most hallowed ground for Cabernet in the world,' said Tony Biagi, Paraduxx's founding winemaker, who left the winery in 2001. 'It has the same dirt as Screaming Eagle,' he added, referring to Paraduxx's neighbor and one of Napa Valley's most noted cult Cabernet brands. Some Rector Creek grapes are used in Duckhorn's highest-end wines. 'There was always a fight in-house for them,' Biagi said. 'The winemaker at Duckhorn and I would fight over who got the blocks.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duckhorn to consolidate portfolio, close tasting rooms
The Duckhorn Portfolio plans to focus its investment on a clutch of wineries and close some of its tasting rooms in a bid to "profitably scale". The US luxury wine group said it will prioritise its spend on "four core wineries" – Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne, Decoy, and Sonoma-Cutrer, as well as the Goldeneye Calera, and Greenwing brands. Duckhorn's CEO Robert Hanson said the move was part of the group's regular evaluation of its portfolio 'to ensure it is well-positioned to expand and profitably scale'. The wineries account for 96% of the Californian company's net sales and represent the 'biggest growth opportunity' within its portfolio, it said. The seven wine brands the company has chosen to prioritise operate within the $15-50 premium and luxury wine segments. Over the last 24 months, Duckhorn said its portfolio accounted for 37% of growth in the premium and luxury price segment and 'continues to gain market share'. Hanson added that the seven brands had 'tremendous potential' to support Duckhorn's ambition of becoming the 'leader in American luxury wine'. Consequently, Duckhorn will pull resources away from brands including Canvasback, Migration, Paraduxx, and Postmark. These labels, which generated just 3.9% of Duckhorn's total gross profit over the past nine months, 'have been declining on a trailing 12-month basis,' the company said. They will continue to be available in the wholesale market for the next few years. The Californian group will also close tasting rooms that are not 'generating significant revenue or contributing to profitability' by June. Closures include Californian locations Migration in Napa and Sonoma-Cutrer in Windsor, plus Canvasback in Walla Walla, Washington. Despite the closure of the Sonoma-Cutrer tasting room, its wholesale business, membership club, and winemaking operations will remain the 'primary focus of this growth brand within the portfolio', Duckhorn said. The news follows recent management shifts in the business. Hanson, a former Constellation Brands executive, was appointed CEO in January, while Duckhorn appointed former WC Brands executive Jeff Ngo as its new chief growth officer last month. "Duckhorn to consolidate portfolio, close tasting rooms " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.
San Francisco Chronicle
07-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Napa Valley wine giant to close tasting rooms and consolidate its brands
The Duckhorn Portfolio, one of Napa Valley's most prominent wine companies, is closing two Wine Country tasting rooms and consolidating its portfolio to focus on its four most successful labels. The Migration tasting room in Napa and one of Sonoma County's most classic wineries, Sonoma-Cutrer, in Windsor will close in June, though the latter winery will continue sales through wholesale and a wine club. The news, first reported by the Northwest Wine Report, comes roughly six months after Duckhorn sold to private equity firm Butterfly Equity in an all-cash deal that values the business at $1.95 billion. The company announced Tuesday that it will concentrate investments on Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne, Decoy and Sonoma-Cutrer, along with Goldeneye, Calera, and Greenwing. These brands now account for 96% of Duckhorn's total sales. 'We see tremendous potential for our core four wineries,' CEO Robert Hanson said in the press release. 'As we continue to execute our strategic priorities, we consistently evaluate our portfolio to ensure it is well-positioned to expand and profitably scale.' Duckhorn did not immediately respond to the Chronicle's request for comment Tuesday night. Those core wineries operate in the $15-50 premium and luxury wine category, which has grown approximately 7% over the past 12 years, the company added. Over the last 24 months, the Duckhorn Portfolio has accounted for 37% of the growth in this segment and continues to expand its market share. As part of the new direction, Duckhorn will reduce resources dedicated to underperforming brands like Canvasback, Migration, Paraduxx and Postmark. It said the brands together account for only 3.9% of Duckhorn's gross profit. Duckhorn, whose flagship St. Helena winery is one of the best-known names in Napa Valley, has been through many ownership changes in recent years. Founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, it became known for favoring Merlot, a grape variety that many of their counterparts in Napa Valley only used for a minor part of a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. The business steadily grew as the Duckhorns acquired hundreds of acres of vineyards and introduced a series of waterfowl-themed spinoff brands. In 2021, the company went public, but the Butterfly deal brought it back under private ownership. Duckhorn is not the first major wine company to announce a shakeup in 2025 as the wine industry downturn worsens. In April, Constellation Brands offloaded its low-tier wine brands to the Wine Group and Jackson Family Wines confirmed layoffs. Lawrence Wine Estates recently laid off its three-person Haynes Vineyard production staff and has consolidated much of its production. Several other Wine Country tasting rooms have closed this year, including Napa's Twomey. The company said it will close tasting rooms 'that are not generating significant revenue or contributing to profitability.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duckhorn hires WX Brands exec as chief growth officer
US wine group The Duckhorn Portfolio has named WX Brands executive Jeff Ngo as its new chief growth officer. Ngo, who is set to join the private-equity-backed Duckhorn at the end of the month, will succeed Lisa Kislak, who has been the company's fractional chief marketing officer since September. In his new position, Ngo's remit will include brand marketing, trade marketing and DTC operations, the Sonoma-Cutrer brand owner said. In a statement announcing the appointment, Duckhorn said Ngo has more than two decades of experience in brand management, with a 'proven track record of success in the CPG industry specialising in wine'. He joins Duckhorn following his tenure as chief commercial officer at WX Brands, where he led US sales, marketing and DTC operations for the US company's national wine portfolio. Ngo was senior vice-president of marketing at WX from 2020 to 2023. Before joining WX Brands, Ngo worked for Jackson Family Wines for more than seven years. Commenting on the appointment, Ngo said: 'I have watched the company evolve and grow over the years into one of the most enviable portfolios of luxury wineries in North America. From Duckhorn Vineyards to Decoy, Kosta Browne to Sonoma-Cutrer, this role is a wine marketer's dream job.' Alongside Ngo's appointment, Duckhorn appointed Nihar Bhatt as its new CFO from yesterday (14 April). Bhatt succeeds Jennifer Fall Jung, who "looks to return to her public company roots", Duckhorn said. Prior to joining Duckhorn, Bhatt was CFO at Toms Shoes. Duckhorn CEO Robert Hanson, a former Constellation Brands executive who joined the wine group in January, said: 'Having worked with Nihar in the past, I know he brings a proven track record of driving value creation, leading teams, driving change and creating efficient and effective processes. 'Jeff is an inspirational, collaborative leader, team builder and strategic thinker with impressive experience in driving growth within the wine industry.' Hanson added Duckhorn's 'goal is to be the undisputed leader in American luxury wine, with a curated, comprehensive portfolio of growing and profitable winery brands". He added: "Nihar and Jeff will be instrumental in helping us achieve this goal.' Last month, the Decoy brand owner appointed two drinks industry veterans Tom Flocco and David Klein to its board of directors. Owned by private-equity firm Butterfly Equity, Duckhorn operates 11 wineries, ten winemaking facilities, eight tasting rooms and manages over 2,200 acres of vineyards across 38 estate properties. The company's portfolio includes brands such as Kosta Browne, Calera and Postmark. "Duckhorn hires WX Brands exec as chief growth officer" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
