Entrepreneur Raymond Twomey Duncan first visited the Napa Valley in the late 1960s. Taken by the areaÆs rugged beauty û and the potential of its fledgling wine industry û he soon began purchasing orchards, pastures and vineyards throughout the Napa and Alexander Valleys. Looking for an insider to advise him, Ray approached Justin Meyer in 1972, asking him to plant and manage his vineyards. Then a winemaker for the Christian Brothers, Justin agreed under one condition: In addition to growing grapes, he wanted to create a winery that would forever raise the standards of California wine. Silver Oak Cellars was born. Ray and Justin had a bold vision for their winery. Rather than producing six or seven varietals, they would devote all their resources to producing a single wine û Cabernet Sauvignon. WhatÆs more, their wine would be a new style of Cabernet Sauvignon, rich and complex yet deliciously drinkable from the day it was released. In 1972, Silver OakÆs Alexander Valley vineyards produced the harvest that would become our first Cabernet Sauvignon. Seven years later, we harvested the grapes for our first Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, now produced as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals. From the beginning, these two wines have consistently represented the very best of their appellations, attracting a loyal following across the country and around the world. After selecting Daniel Baron to succeed him as winemaker in 1994, Justin sold his share of Silver Oak to the Duncan family in 2001. Today, the Duncans continue to lead Silver Oak, carrying forward the vision established by Ray and Justin more than 35 years ago.