Napa Valley wine legend who made merlot a global icon dies

Napa Valley has lost a true icon with the passing of Tom Rinaldi — a winemaker whose career spanned five legendary decades.

As Duckhorn’s founding winemaker, Rinaldi, 77, devoted 22 years to building its enduring legacy.

At a time when merlot was mostly used in blends, he crafted the first Three Palms Merlot, catapulting Duckhorn to fame and forever transforming the reputation of the grape.

As Doug Shafer of Shafer Vineyards recalled on his podcast to the San Francisco Chronicle, “He put Merlot on the map in the modern era. That’s what I think most people know him for. But the other thing was that he was so generous with his time and advice for all of us. He’d be incredibly forthcoming.”

Rinaldi passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters