Justin Meyer
Justin Meyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2002 (aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Winemaker, enologist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Silver Oak Cellars |
Justin Meyer (originally named Raymond Meyer; born 11 November 1938 – died 6 August 2002) was an American winemaker, enologist, and member of the Christian Brothers. In 1972, he co-established Silver Oak Cellars alongside Raymond Twomey Duncan, creating a prominent winery located in both the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley. Presently, Duncan's sons, David Duncan and Tim Duncan, oversee Silver Oak Cellars as well as Twomey Cellars, which was founded in 1999. Meyer divested his interest to Duncan in 2001. Widely regarded as one of California’s foremost wine authorities, he held the position of president at the American Vineyard Foundation during the 1990s and contributed to numerous leadership roles within the wine industry. The San Francisco Chronicle referred to him as "one of the legends of the Napa Valley."
Background
Raymond Meyer entered the world on 11 November 1938 in Bakersfield, California. After completing high school, he joined the Christian Brothers and took on the religious name Justin. He initially taught Spanish at a Christian Brothers high school in Sacramento before beginning an apprenticeship under Brother Timothy, a winemaker at their winery, Greystone Cellars, located in St. Helena, California, in 1964. At that period, the Christian Brothers managed six wineries and were significant producers of brandy worldwide.
Career
In 1972, Meyer departed from the Christian Brothers and assumed the presidency of V&E Consulting and Management Company. That same year, he partnered with Ray Duncan, a businessman from Colorado who had purchased a 750-acre tract in Napa Valley formerly known as Oakville Dairy Farm and was investing in vineyards. Meyer contributed his expertise in winemaking while Duncan offered financial resources to establish a winery on the former Christian Brothers site in St. Helena.
Their inaugural Cabernet Sauvignon vintage was produced in 1972, with aging conducted in an old dairy barn located on Duncan’s property. Their production concentrated exclusively on high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, utilizing only American oak barrels for maturation to distinguish their wines from competitors. Meyer explained that this approach stemmed from his background with the Christian Brothers, focusing on quality rather than volume and capitalizing on the strengths of Napa and Sonoma regions. Esteemed wine critic Robert Parker highlighted Meyer's dedication to harvesting grapes at full maturity. Regarding barrel selection, Meyer favored American oak because it imparted fewer tannins compared to French oak, thereby improving drinkability.
Following three vintages made at Christian Brothers facilities, Meyer and Duncan purchased Franciscan Winery in 1975 but sold it three years later to acquire Silver Oak winery near Oakville and expand their vineyard properties. Silver Oak commenced production in 1981; notably, their 1982 vintage set a high standard for quality. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, company expansion allowed for additional vineyard acquisitions, establishing Silver Oak as a premier Cabernet Sauvignon producer. By 1994, Silver Oak Napa introduced a blend incorporating Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot while continuing exclusive aging in American oak—an adaptation of traditional Bordeaux blends tailored to California’s terroir. During this period, Meyer also served as president of the American Vineyard Foundation and held other influential positions within the wine sector.
Meyer played a key role in mentoring Daniel Baron as his successor chief winemaker. Diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes alongside a degenerative neurological condition during the late 1990s, Meyer sold his share of Silver Oak to Duncan in January 2001 due to declining health but continued as consulting winemaker until his passing in August 2002. He famously remarked, "Only one wine can be your best, and I felt that cabernet was what we did best in Napa and Sonoma."
Death and legacy
At the age of 63, Meyer passed away from a heart attack while on vacation in the Sierra Nevada region near Lake Tahoe on August 6, 2002. Four days afterward, a commemorative service was conducted at Silver Oak.
Jim Wolpert, who leads viticulture and enology at University of California Davis, commended Meyer's straightforward style and his invaluable impact on wine research. John De Luca, president of the Wine Institute, described him as "one of the defining figures" within the wine sector. Patrick Gleeson, executive director of the American Vineyard Foundation and a protégé of Meyer, emphasized his enduring influence and inspiration across the industry.
Meyer's legacy continues through his wife, Bonny, who manages Bonny's Vineyard, along with their three children: sons Chad and Matt, and daughter Holly. Matt Meyer oversees Meyer Family Cellars, which was founded in 1999 with his father's encouragement in the Yorkville Highlands of Mendocino County.