Wayne Family Estate Napa Valley Wines Launched

John Wayne was usually associated with bourbon, but now the Wayne Family is introducing Wayne Family Estate Napa Valley Wines.

From their press release:

NAPA, Calif., (Dec. 7, 2023) - When John Wayne’s youngest son Ethan became manager of his father’s estate, he discovered about 30 wooden vaults that had been sealed by executors after his father’s 1979 passing. In one was a collection of wines the Oscar-winning actor had collected.

Now that collection has inspired a new line of Napa Valley reserve wines, arriving just in time for holiday gifting. Wayne Family Estate is dedicated to making wines that inspire like the life of The Duke, who pursued the American dream through hard work and determination. These unique traits can be found in each bottle of Wayne Family Estate’s handcrafted wines produced at the historic Fairwinds Estate Winery on the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, located in California’s Napa Valley.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of each bottle of Wayne Family Estate wine will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, which the actor’s family created to fulfill his wish of fighting cancer with courage, strength and grit.

Three premium Napa Valley wines make up the Wayne Family Estate inaugural collection: The Duke, a 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; 26 Bar, a 2019 Chardonnay Reserve; and The Duke, a Sparkling Blanc de Noirs Reserve – Méthode Champenoise.

The Duke 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – Napa Valley: The flagship Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum complemented by hits of toasted oak, dried currant and baking spice. Fine-grained tannins and ample brightness on the palate give way to a polished mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish. It is available for $95 ($75 for members).

26 Bar 2019 Chardonnay Reserve – Napa Valley: This wine is named for the 26 Bar Ranch, John Wayne’s 14,000-acre working purebred Hereford cattle ranch in Arizona. From the chalky soil of the Carneros region in southern Napa Valley, this beauty exhibits balanced fruit with tarte acidity making this wine a classic example of Premium Napa Valley Chardonnay. It is available for $56 ($45 for members). 

The Duke Sparkling Blanc de Noirs Reserve -- Méthode Champenoise – Napa Valley: This premium sparkling wine – meticulously and artfully made in the traditional Champagne method – rivals anything from the best Champagne houses in Épernay and Reims. It is available for $85 ($65 for members).

Membership in The Duke Wine Club begins with a one-time $50 nonrefundable deposit that secures your club seniority and is applied to your first shipment of wines. Biannual club shipments are available in either three or six bottle formats, with the cost varying based on your selections. Benefits of club membership include customized wine selections, discounts on estate wine and gift sets, free wine tastings in Napa Valley, wine events and wine delivered in a handmade and collectible fire-branded wooden Duke wine crate. Become a member at waynefamilyestate.com/join.

For the holidays, the Wayne Family Estate is offering three packages featuring its premium Sparkling Napa Valley wine. Make your gift extra special by including a personalized message with our wooden holiday card.  Each offering is expertly curated and beautifully packaged. The three packages available are Sparkling Special ($119, $95.20 member), Sparkling Lover ($189, $151.20 member), and A Sparkling Toast (pictured above; $299, $239.20 member).

To see package details and additional seasonal discount codes or purchase a package, visit waynefamilyestate.com/holiday-gifting.

Creating a partnership with a California winemaker has long been a goal of the Wayne family.

“These are great wines, and my father would enjoy them whether his name was on the bottle or not,” said Ethan Wayne, the actor’s son and head of John Wayne Enterprises.

“I am honored to make these wines with Ethan in celebration of all that is John Wayne in the hearts of all Americans,” said Brandon Chaney, proprietor and CEO of Wayne Family Estate and Fairwinds in Napa Valley.

For more information, go here.