Label & Artist Series
Estate Wood Ducks by David Huddleston
Every spring during their nesting season, wood ducks take up residence in the Napa River that borders Duckhorn Vineyards to the west. The female ducks nest and raise their young in hollowed-out oak trees that overhang the river. When the ducklings hatch, they are pushed from the nest into pools of water on the river and begin their life's journey. In the fall, the wood ducks' feed on the oaks' seasonal crop of acorns. The wood duck's unique cry, more like a shriek than the average duck's quack, is unmistakable when heard in the early morning hours at the winery.
Given the long co-existence of the winery and the Wood Ducks on the same 10-acre parcel, it is only natural that the wood duck should be portrayed on the inaugural label of Duckhorn Vineyards newest wine, Paraduxx. Napa Valley artist David Huddleston was commissioned to create the painting for the first Paraduxx label. His original watercolor has been reproduced for a limited edition of 500 prints, all hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
Mr. Huddleston also did the artwork for the original Decoy label and the watercolor portrait of the winery. He has been teaching art classes since 1972 at Napa Valley College, Napa Valley Adult Education at Ridgeview School, Pacific Union College, Merced College, and the University of the Pacific. He also has taught private classes and painting workshops around the world since 1982. He has received approximately 100 awards in local and national competitions.
