Founded in Alexander Valley in 1972, Silver Oak
Co-owner Tim Duncan, Cabernet Sauvignon Specialist
An American Classic Wine with Balanced Oak Flavors
The Perfect Match for Korean Barbecue and Galbi
"At Silver Oak, we place the utmost importance on balanced oak aging."
Tim Duncan, Co-owner and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Silver Oak Winery, stated, "Our identity lies in adjusting the type of oak barrels and aging periods to match the characteristics of the grapes, in order to achieve the perfect balance." He explained that optimal oak aging imparts the highest level of delicacy and harmony to their wines.
Silver Oak is a winery co-founded in 1972 in Napa Valley, California, by Tim Duncan's father, Raymond Twomey Duncan, and winemaker Justin Meyer. Since 2001, the Duncan family has held full management rights and currently operates the winery as a family business. In addition to Silver Oak, the company produces wines under four brands: Twomey, Timeless, Ovid, and Silver Oak.
Silver Oak is renowned for its commitment to aging exclusively in American oak barrels. The winery believes that the rich and sweet aromas and flavors imparted by American oak create a uniquely American resonance in their wines. While recent winemaking trends emphasize highlighting the fresh aromas and nuances of the fruit itself, rather than the buttery and spicy flavors derived from oak aging, Silver Oak remains focused on maintaining its distinctive style through its own aging expertise, rather than simply following trends.
Duncan emphasized, "Since our founding, Silver Oak has always prioritized balanced use of oak barrels. Unlike some producers who excessively use new oak, we meticulously manage both the quantity and quality of new oak to achieve optimal delicacy and balance." He added, "For example, in Alexander Valley, we always use 50% new oak because that is the optimal level for the grapes from Alexander Valley. Grapes from Napa Valley, on the other hand, can handle a higher proportion of new oak, so we adjust the ratio accordingly."
Silver Oak's vineyard stretching across Sonoma County and Napa County in California, USA. [Photo by Silver Oak]
As a master of American oak, Silver Oak not only grows its own grapes but also produces the oak barrels used for winemaking and aging. Duncan stated, "Silver Oak operates its own cooperage, which allows us to craft American oak barrels exclusively for Silver Oak." He emphasized, "This is a key factor that differentiates Silver Oak from other Napa Valley wines and is essential to achieving the wine style we pursue."
Among Silver Oak's wines, which are considered the epitome of American-style Cabernet Sauvignon, the Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as an American classic. This wine is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc blended in. It is aged for 24 months in American oak barrels and then further matured in the bottle for 15 months before release. The deep ruby-colored wine offers fragrant notes of chocolate, blueberry, and cassis, with a pleasant tannic texture that gently brushes the palate and a long, lingering finish, allowing one to experience Silver Oak's signature balance and complexity.
This wine has long enjoyed steady popularity in Korea. Duncan commented, "Silver Oak wines pair excellently with traditional Korean cuisine, especially beef dishes such as Hanwoo or galbi, as well as Korean-style barbecue. The fruit-forward and structured style of our wines complements the flavors of Korean food, which I believe is why they are so well received in Korea." He added, "Our importer, HiteJinro, has played a significant role in introducing Silver Oak to a wide range of venues, thanks to their deep understanding of the Korean market and strong distribution network, enabling many consumers to experience and enjoy Silver Oak."
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