Justin Meyer

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Justin Meyer
Sierra Nevada, USA
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Vintner and enologist
Known forCo-founding Silver Oak Cellars
His vast expertise in winemaking and being a major influence in the American Vineyard Foundation, which he presided in the 1990s.

Justin Meyer (born Raymond Meyer, 11 November 1938 – 6 August 2002) was an American vintner, enologist, and member of the

Alexander Valley. Today Duncan's sons David Duncan and Tim Duncan run Silver Oak Cellars, as well as Twomey Cellars, established in 1999. Meyer sold his share of the company to Duncan in 2001.[1][2] One of California's top wine experts, he was president of the American Vineyard Foundation in the 1990s and also held numerous other positions in the wine industry. The San Francisco Chronicle cites Meyer as "one of the legends of the Napa Valley".[3]

Background

Meyer was born Raymond Meyer on 11 November 1938 in

Napa Valley.[4][5] At one point the Christian Brothers ran 6 wineries and were the largest brandy producers in the world according to Meyer.[4]

Career

Raymond Twomey Duncan

He left the Christian Brothers in 1972, and became president of V&E Consulting and Management Company.

Napa Valley of northern California, which was formerly the Oakville Dairy farm, as an investment in growing and selling grapes.[7][8] Meyer, a winemaker who was a monk of the Christian Brothers religious order, formed an agreement, with Duncan, setting up a winery on the Christian Brother's site in St. Helena. Meyer would provide his winemaking, cultivation and Californian market expertise while Duncan provided the financial backing.[8]

The pair bottled their first vintage Cabernet Sauvignon in 1972, aging the wine in the old Keig Dairy barn on the original plot of land Duncan purchased.

Robert Parker, Meyer always believed in harvesting ripe, physiologically mature fruit.[13] In answer to the question of why Silver Oak insists upon aging their wines in American oak barrels, Meyer once said, "I'm happy with a cellar of about 65 degrees. Aging is speeded up by heat and slowed down by cold, but the only thing I do to modify my cellar is drink it faster... To my palate, American oak imparts less wood tannin than French oak. I like tannic wine about as much as I like tough steak."[14]

Meyer and Silver Oak's barrels

Meyer and Duncan made their first three vintages at the Christian Brothers winery, and in 1975 bought the Franciscan Winery, selling it in 1978 to buy the Silver Oak winery near

Wines and Vines stated that Meyer's most important contribution will be his influence in bringing growers and winemakers together to shape the very future of California wine." He trained Daniel Baron extensively to replace himself as Silver Oak's chief winemaker. In the late 1990s, he was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes and a degenerative brain disease.[3][19] In January 2001, he sold his share of the company to Ray Duncan, citing health problems,[5] but continued as a consulting winemaker until his death in August 2002.[20][21]
Meyer once said "Only one wine can be your best, and I felt that cabernet was what we did best in Napa and Sonoma".

Death and legacy

Meyer enjoying a glass of wine

Meyer died of a heart attack at the age of 63 while on vacation in the

Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe on August 6, 2002.[4][22] A memorial service was held at Silver Oak four days later.[23]

Upon his death,

University of California Davis said, "The debt of gratitude that we in the research community owe to him is immeasurable. He will be missed in ways that I don't think we all understand yet. There was no question about his reputation. His approach was always a no-nonsense, no-politics approach. He never let the main issues get sidetracked."[21] John De Luca, president of the Wine Institute said "I'm not sure people truly perceive his extraordinary impact on the wine industry. He is one of the defining figures, one of the great figures in wine of our time."[21] Patrick Gleeson, executive director of the American Vineyard Foundation, who Meyer had mentored as a young lad said, "His vision and love for wine has undoubtedly made him a living legacy amongst friends, peers and those in the industry. Justin's passing will not diminish the influence he has had on the wine industry and hopefully it will inspire others to follow in his footsteps."[21]

He is survived by his wife, Bonny. The couple had two sons, Chad and Matt, and a daughter, Holly.

Mendocino County
in January 1999.

References

  1. ^ "Colorado Business Hall of Fame: Ray Duncan". ColoradoBiz. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b "The cult of cabernet". ColoradoBiz. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "SON OF SILVER OAK / The scion of one of Napa's biggest legends makes a name for himself in Mendocino County with Meyer Family Cellars". San Francisco Chronicle. 6 April 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Prial, Frank J. (12 August 2002). "Justin Meyer, 63, Winemaker Renowned for His Cabernet". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Justin Meyer, 63; Founder of Napa Valley's Silver Oak Cellars". Los Angeles Times. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  6. ^ Australian Viticulture. Winetitles : printed by Hyde Park Press. 2003. p. 73. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  7. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d "The cult of Cabernet: Silver Oak Cellars soars with single-minded niche.(Silver Oak Wine Cellars)(Company overview)". ColoradoBiz. 1 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  9. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  10. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  11. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  12. Huffington Post
    . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  13. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Drinking in the sights, wines at Yosemite". Daily Herald. 13 January 1999.[dead link]
  15. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  16. ^ Quarterly Review of Wines. Richard L. Elia. 2005. p. 54. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  17. ^ Boyd, Gerald D. (27 May 2009). "The "New" Silver Oak Napa". Wine Review Online. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  18. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Justin Meyer". Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque)]. 13 August 2002. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Justin Meyer Sells Share Of Silver Oak Wine Cellars". Wines & Vines. 1 February 2001. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d "Justin Meyer's legacy to California wine". Wines & Vines. 1 November 2002. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  22. ^ Vineyard & Winery Management. Vineyard & Winery Management. 2002. p. 154. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Justin Meyer dead at 63". Wines & Vines. 1 September 2002. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  24. . Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  25. ^ "Bonny's Vineyard". Bonny's Vineyard. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  26. ^ "Family tree is a grapevine" (PDF). Mfcellars.com. Retrieved 26 March 2013.