Silver Oak Wine

Silver Oak Winery serves as one of California's original cult wineries, first established in 1972 by Justin Meyer and Raymond Twomey Duncan. Its inaugural vintage is widely credited as popularizing single varietal wines in Napa Valley, and its wines are still beloved by American wine consumers today. Now holding plots in Sonoma County and Napa Valley, as well as multiple winery locations, Silver Oak Winery is a testament to Northern California's humble wine beginnings and contemporary rise onto global stardom.

Silver Oak Winery: History Behind the Label

Silver Oak Wine was founded in 1972 by Raymond Twomey Duncan and Justin Meyer after purchasing a dairy barn in Oakville. Duncan was introduced to Napa Valley by Jack Novak, founder of Spottswoode Winery, and transitioned from oil entrepreneurship to winemaking. Conversely, Novak was a monk with the Christian Brothers, holding a lifelong interest in wine and taking on the challenge as Silver Oak's head winemaker for almost 30 years. 

When crafting the first vintages, Silver Oak opted to differentiate itself from other Napa wineries, producing single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon at an expensive price at the time: $6 per bottle compared to the standard $3 price. Furthermore, Silver Oak Wine was listed as a "North Coast" winery as their wines predated the Alexander Valley AVA in Sonoma County. 

The inaugural 1972 vintage won the gold medal at the 1977 California State Fair, making Silver Oak Wine one of California's first "cult wineries." After decades of continued excellence, Silver Oak Cabernet has become a highly coveted wine for drinkers and has now established itself as the official wine partner for the Golden State Warriors and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Similarly, celebrities like Oprah, LeBron James, Carlos Santana, and Matthew McConaughey have all proclaimed the wine as one of California's best. 

Silver Oak Cellars Alexander Valley and Oakville Wineries 

Silver Oak Winery holds a unique distinction as holding two separate wineries to better vinify its fruit. The Alexander Valley and Oakville locations are used for dedicated plots in Sonoma Coast and Napa Valley, and the estate owns 19 vineyards across the two regions.

The estate's main vineyards include: 

• Soda Canyon Vineyard
  
• Jump Rock Vineyard
• Red Tail Vineyard
• Alexander Valley Estate Vineyard
• Miraval Vineyard
• Crazy Creek Vineyard
• Big River Vineyard

Each plot is farmed with sustainable practices, with Silver Oak gaining a LEED Platinum certification in 2018 for its commitment to eco-friendly farming. Additionally, the estate utilizes water conservation efforts and Net Zero practices.