David Duncan (vintner)
David Duncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 Durango, Colorado, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, vintner |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | President and CEO of Duncan Oil and Silver Oak Cellars; Managing Partner at Twomey Cellars |
David Duncan (born 1965) is an American entrepreneur and vintner. He holds the positions of President and CEO at both Duncan Oil and Silver Oak Cellars, and acts as Managing Partner at Twomey Cellars, all well-known wineries located in northern California’s Napa, Alexander, and Russian River Valley regions. As the son of the late Raymond Twomey Duncan, who co-founded Silver Oak with Justin Meyer in 1972, David manages the family enterprise alongside his brother Tim Duncan, who serves as Executive Vice President. ColoradoBiz characterizes him as a hands-on leader of a winery brand that has earned "cult status" for its Cabernet Sauvignon offerings.
Early life
David was born in Durango, Colorado, where his father had established an oil company. He has three brothers: Mike, Kevin, and Tim. During his teenage years, he gained experience working on a farm and cattle ranch. His early introduction to viticulture came through his father, with frequent trips to Napa Valley as Silver Oak grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s into a premier California Cabernet Sauvignon producer. He graduated with a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1988 and later earned an MBA from the University of Denver in 1994 through evening classes. Beginning his professional journey at Duncan Oil, he progressed from Exploration Manager to President during the 1990s. Additionally, he has held board positions at Colorado’s First Western Trust Bank and acted as Lead Director for Boulder-based restaurant chain Noodles & Company.
Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars
In 1999, David played a pivotal role in founding Twomey Cellars to diversify beyond Silver Oak’s exclusive focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Twomey specializes in producing Pinot noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. He was instrumental in establishing Twomey’s wineries in Calistoga (2003) and Healdsburg (2007). In 2002, Duncan moved to Napa Valley to oversee the family wine operations; concurrently, his wife Kary shifted her medical career towards dermatology practice based in St. Helena. He currently serves as President & CEO of Silver Oak Cellars and Managing Partner of Twomey.
Between 2006 and 2008, Duncan directed the construction of Silver Oak’s new Oakville Winery following the destruction of its previous facility by fire. The project emphasized sustainability by integrating advanced technology and adaptable design for future modifications. The reconstruction utilized 550 tons of reclaimed stone sourced from a dismantled Kansas mill, installed 1,464 solar panels for energy generation, elevated the site above flood risk levels, and repositioned the iconic water tower. The tasting room incorporates reclaimed white oak furnishings alongside a glass-enclosed library displaying Silver Oak wines dating back to the 1970s. The winery officially opened its doors in September 2008.
In 2007, Duncan expanded Twomey estate wines by acquiring Roshambo Winery in the Russian River Valley, which includes over 17 acres of vineyards, and launched a second tasting room at this location. To broaden Cabernet Sauvignon production within Alexander Valley, he purchased Sausal Vineyard in 2012. Duncan describes his responsibilities as overseeing production while delegating distribution duties to others. He joined the Napa Valley Vintners board in 2009. In a 2014 interview with the Young Presidents' Organization, he reflected on the "Sideways effect," noting that Merlot’s market share plummeted from 14% to 2% following the influence of the film.
In 2016, Silver Oak acquired Missouri-based barrel manufacturer A&K Cooperage, becoming the first American winery to own a domestic cooperage—renamed "The Oak Cooperage"—which provides complete control over barrel crafting.
The Duncan family acquired Napa Valley’s Ovid winery with its 15-acre Pritchard Hill vineyard in 2017. That same year, Silver Oak became the official wine partner for the San Francisco Giants. After the Napa wildfires later that year, Duncan confirmed that all grapes had been harvested prior to the fires.
A strong advocate for sustainability and energy efficiency, Duncan oversaw Silver Oak’s Oakville winery achieving LEED Platinum Certification under the Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance category in 2016—the highest honor from the U.S. Green Building Council for energy performance. This facility utilizes CO2 heat pumps for water sanitation along with over 2,500 solar panels paired with battery storage systems. In 2018, Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley winery earned LEED Platinum certification for new construction—the first winery worldwide to receive this designation. Duncan emphasized that establishing practical and cost-effective green building standards is essential for widespread industry adoption.
Other pursuits
Operating out of St. Helena, California, Duncan has served in various leadership capacities, including as Chapter Chairman for the Northern California Young Presidents Organization and as Chairman of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation. He actively contributes to educational initiatives through his involvement with the St Helena Montessori School and engages with organizations within the Napa Valley wine sector. As a founding participant in the Napa Valley musical group Silverado Pickups, he performs alongside vintners and industry figures such as Jeff Gargiulo, Shane Soldinger, Dan Zepponi, winemaker Tres Goettings, and consultant Paul Hoffman. The band, recognized for tracks like "Wine Country Cowboy," has performed at Napa Valley’s BottleRock festival, sharing the stage with prominent artists including The Black Keys and the Kings of Leon. Additionally, Duncan provided input for Jim Collins' business publication Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck--Why Some Thrive Despite Them All.
He formerly curated a Tumblr blog titled "Bottle Stories," which served as a platform for Silver Oak fans to exchange brand-related stories.