Daniel Baron (born 1949) is an American winemaker. He is best known for his work with the Duncan family-owned
Silver Oak Cellars
Silver Oak Cellars is a family-owned, California winery dedicated to producing only Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak was established in 1972 by Ray Duncan (vintner), Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer. It is currently operated by Ray's sons David Duncan (vi ...
and
Twomey Cellars
Twomey Cellars (pronounced too-me) is a California winery. It was established in 1999 by the Duncan Family, who have operated the successful Silver Oak Cellars in California since 1972. The Duncan Family started Twomey Cellars to pursue varietals o ...
, and was Director of Winemaking for both. After his retirement in 2017, he launche
Complant Winewith his son, Sam Baron, to produce small production, artisanal, single vineyard wines. Originally a field worker for
John Rolleri at
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgment of Paris" wine competition. Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California und ...
, he gained experience in the Bordeaux region of France and was mentored by the likes of grape geneticist Professor
Harold Olmo
Harold Olmo (July 31, 1909 – June 30, 2006) was an American viticulturist and professor at the University of California, Davis where he created many new grape varieties known today as Olmo grapes. In the 1950s, he helped to establish Calif ...
, and winemakers
Jean-Claude Berrouet and
Justin Meyer. He became general manager of
Christian Moueix
Christian Moueix (; born 1946) is a French winemaker and the president of the ''négociant'' house Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix in Libourne, overseeing production in several estates in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol including Château La Fleur ...
's
Dominus Estate
Dominus Estate, is a California wine estate producing Bordeaux style blends, owned by Christian Moueix. The winery is located in Yountville within the Napa Valley AVA.
History
George C. Yount, the founder of Yountville, planted in 1836 the firs ...
in the 1980s.
He became winemaker for Silver Oak, an exclusive
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon' ...
producer, in 1994, and was trained by Justin Meyer to follow in his footsteps as Silver Oak's winemaker before Meyer’s retirement in 2001.
In 1999, Baron was instrumental in persuading the Duncans to establish Twomey to pursue
Merlot
Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...
,
Pinot noir
Pinot Noir () is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words for ''pine'' and ''black.' ...
, and
Sauvignon blanc
is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words ''sauvage'' ("wild") and ''blanc'' ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in ...
after discovering high quality Merlot grapes on Silver Oak’s
Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard
Soda or SODA may refer to:
Chemistry
* Some chemical compounds containing sodium
** Sodium carbonate, washing soda or soda ash
** Sodium bicarbonate, baking soda
** Sodium hydroxide, caustic soda
** Sodium oxide, an alkali metal oxide
* Sod ...
. He has served on boards such as the
American Society of Enology and Viticulture and the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group.
Biography
Baron grew up on
Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...
, New York.
He describes himself as a "beach rat", and his first job was working as a lifeguard at
Jones Beach. However, after his freshman year in college, he tested positive for
mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis (IM, mono), also known as glandular fever, is an infection usually caused by the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Most people are infected by the virus as children, when the disease produces few or no symptoms. In young adult ...
, and was rejected for a second term as a lifeguard.
Without a job, he drove to
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
with friends and settled in
Sonoma County
Sonoma County () is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 488,863. Its county seat and largest city is Santa Rosa, California, Santa Rosa. It is to the n ...
in 1968, and from 1971 he worked as a tractor driver and field worker under vineyard manager
John Rolleri at
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgment of Paris" wine competition. Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California und ...
.
While working there he developed an interest in winemaking and was taught the basics of viticulture by Rolleri, who taught him how to plant, prune, and harvest.
He enrolled at
University of California Davis
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a public land-grant research university near Davis, California. Named a Public Ivy, it is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The institut ...
in 1974.
Over four years he obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in viticulture and enology.
He received Highest Honors for his Bachelor of Science, Plant Science Major before obtaining a Master of Science in Horticulture.
During his studies there he was mentored by grape geneticist Professor
Harold Olmo
Harold Olmo (July 31, 1909 – June 30, 2006) was an American viticulturist and professor at the University of California, Davis where he created many new grape varieties known today as Olmo grapes. In the 1950s, he helped to establish Calif ...
.
After graduation, Baron was employed as a vineyard manager and assistant winemaker at Navarro Vineyards in the
Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley is a sparsely populated region in western Mendocino County in Northern California. Located approximately north of San Francisco, the name "Anderson Valley" applies broadly to several rural, unincorporated communities in or near ...
.
![Jean-Claude Berrouet and Daniel Baron](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Jean-Claude_Berrouet_and_Daniel_Baron.jpg)
Passionate about the art of winemaking, in 1981 Baron moved to the Bordeaux region of France to gain experience in one of the world's finest wine producing regions. He was involved in the production of two vintages in various chateaus, gaining a valuable insight into its history and in cultivating top-notch wines, changing his perception of winemaking. While in France, Daniel was hired at the legendary
Chateau Petrus where he met owner
Christian Moueix
Christian Moueix (; born 1946) is a French winemaker and the president of the ''négociant'' house Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix in Libourne, overseeing production in several estates in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol including Château La Fleur ...
, winemaker
Jean-Claude Berrouet, and cellarmaster Jean Veyssiere and his son Francois, who he credits with providing him detailed knowledge into the history of viticulture and the business of winemaking. Baron has said that they "taught me about wine as a part of culture and how history, quality and tradition are intertwined with the practical aspects of winemaking." Moueix is considered to be a major winemaker of the Bordeaux region of France.
After a successful harvest at Chateau Petrus in 1982, Moueix established a new winery,
Dominus Estate
Dominus Estate, is a California wine estate producing Bordeaux style blends, owned by Christian Moueix. The winery is located in Yountville within the Napa Valley AVA.
History
George C. Yount, the founder of Yountville, planted in 1836 the firs ...
, in the
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County in California's Wine Country. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on January 27, 1981. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier ...
, and asked Baron to manage the facility; he worked there until 1994.
In 1994, Baron met co-founder of
Silver Oak Cellars
Silver Oak Cellars is a family-owned, California winery dedicated to producing only Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak was established in 1972 by Ray Duncan (vintner), Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer. It is currently operated by Ray's sons David Duncan (vi ...
,
Justin Meyer, after seeing a quirky classified ad in the newspaper ''
Wine Country
Wine Country is the region of California, in the northern San Francisco Bay Area, known worldwide as a premier wine-growing region. The region is famed for its wineries, its cuisine, Michelin star restaurants, boutique hotels, luxury resorts, ...
''.
Meyer soon began training Baron as his eventual successor, and Baron was ultimately appointed Silver Oak winemaker in 1994.
Baron said of Meyer, "Justin instilled in me both pride in what Silver Oak had accomplished and the humility to realize that there is always room to improve. He constantly searched for ways to raise quality, and that’s become one of our core values at Silver Oak.
Baron quickly became successful; Meyer considered the 1995 variety to be the best of the 1990s, and noted wine critic
Robert M. Parker was also impressed with Silver Oak’s 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Baron was instrumental in convincing Silver Oak owners
Raymond Twomey Duncan
Raymond Twomey Duncan (October 23, 1930 – October 9, 2015) known as Ray Duncan was an American entrepreneur and vintner. Originally involved in oil entrepreneurship in Colorado and founder of Duncan Oil, he was the founder along with Justi ...
and his sons
David Duncan and Tim Duncan to establish
Twomey Cellars
Twomey Cellars (pronounced too-me) is a California winery. It was established in 1999 by the Duncan Family, who have operated the successful Silver Oak Cellars in California since 1972. The Duncan Family started Twomey Cellars to pursue varietals o ...
in 1999 after discovering high-class Merlot plantings on Silver Oak’s
Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard
Soda or SODA may refer to:
Chemistry
* Some chemical compounds containing sodium
** Sodium carbonate, washing soda or soda ash
** Sodium bicarbonate, baking soda
** Sodium hydroxide, caustic soda
** Sodium oxide, an alkali metal oxide
* Sod ...
. Baron’s goal at Twomey Cellars was to create Merlot in the French style.
In 2007, Baron was made Director of Winemaking for Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars; Twomey now cultivates
Pinot noir
Pinot Noir () is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words for ''pine'' and ''black.' ...
,
Merlot
Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...
and
Sauvignon blanc
is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words ''sauvage'' ("wild") and ''blanc'' ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in ...
.
In March 2013, Baron sailed aboard the ''
M/S Paul Gauguin
The metre per second is the unit of both speed (a scalar quantity) and velocity (a vector quantity, which has direction and magnitude) in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the speed of a body covering a distance of one metre in ...
'' to
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...
and the
Society Islands
The Society Islands (french: Îles de la Société, officially ''Archipel de la Société;'' ty, Tōtaiete mā) are an archipelago located in the South Pacific Ocean. Politically, they are part of French Polynesia, an overseas country of the F ...
, during which he spoke about winemaking and hosted wine tastings.
Baron retired from Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars after completing the 2016 vintage. He and his winemaker son, Sam Baron, launched the Baron Family Wine, LLC to produc
Complant a small production, artisanal label. They make Napa Valley Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in a vibrant, moderate alcohol style. Daniel is the president of Daniel Baron Consulting, which provides technical assistance on grapegrowing and winemaking in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. In 2018 and 2019, he made three trips to Bordeaux, France to study at the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin at the Université de Bordeaux and was the first American to receive ''Le Diploma Universitaire de Taille et d'Empamprage.'' In 2019, Baron began making the Francophone and Ode labels fo
Nakedwines.comproducing Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. He published the first season of his podcast,
The Winemaker's Journey in 2020. The podcast focuses on the evolution of a winemaker's personal style as well as interview with innovative viticulturists and researchers.
Winemaking and philosophy
![Daniel Baron1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Daniel_Baron1.jpg)
Baron has been outspoken on the influence of terroir, the emphasis on vineyard selection, fruit maturity, and other factors in creating Silver Oak's distinct style.
Baron's Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon is typically aged for about 24-25 months exclusively in American oak barrels, following in the tradition of Justin Meyer.
He ages Twomey's Merlot typically for 18 months in French oak barrels, and six times during the aging process the wine is racked from barrel to barrel, something known as
soutirage traditionnel. Soutirage is the method of moving wine from one barrel to another using gravity rather than a pump, which can be disruptive to a wine. This process softens tannins, clarifies the wine and enhances aromatic qualities.
Baron, who describes bottling as a "traumatic time for wine",
has said, "To me, wine has always been more than something to drink. My family’s love and appreciation of good food, the time I’ve spent in France and the many mentors I've had along the way have led me to an appreciation of the role wine plays in daily life as well as history and culture. To me, creating wine is one of the ways people preserve civilization."
Baron has also said, "Even after years of experience, every vintage feels like a childbirth-if we remembered how much it hurt, we might never do it again. And wines are much like our children. Their personality is there from day one, and we can track it through, know its essence even if its behavior at any particular moment is off. You get a feel from all of this of where the fruit has been and where it’s going. You have to remember this when you think about judging wines. They're alive and changing moment to moment; they have good days and bad; they show well in a particular glass or with particular food. Judging a wine at any particular moment in its life is like giving a kid a letter grade based on his behavior in the supermarket."
Reception
![Daniel Baron](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Daniel_Baron.jpg)
Baron’s wine has been described as an "art form," which is "known to cabernet lovers around the country."
''The Rough Guide to California'' considers Silver Oak's Cabernet Sauvignon to be the "crème de la crème of the heady red."
In 2012, Wine & Spirits Magazine selected Silver Oak’s 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet as one of the "Year’s Best Cabernet Sauvignon," which was acclaimed by critics.
Sonoma Wine said Twomey’s wines are a “marriage of classical French technique and an extraordinary California vineyard,
hich
Ij ( fa, ايج, also Romanized as Īj; also known as Hich and Īch) is a village in Golabar Rural District, in the Central District of Ijrud County, Zanjan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also ...
results in Twomey’s distinctive, complex, and rich expression of luscious fruit.” ''
Wine Enthusiast
''Wine Enthusiast'' magazine is an American wine magazine published by Wine Enthusiast Companies in Valhalla, New York. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, Wine Enthusiast Companies engages in the wine accessories, storage, information, educat ...
'' said of the 2008 Twomey Merlot: “made with a drop of Cabernet Franc, this Merlot is rich, smooth and bone dry. With modest alcohol, it brims with flavors of black and red currant, licorice, anise and white pepper, as well as a subtle touch of sweet, smoky new oak. The grapes come from the cool Soda Canyon area of Napa Valley, at the base of Atlas Peak. Twomey's 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot noir was awarded first place in the
American Wine Society's National Tasting Project in 2012.
Eric Asimov
Eric Asimov (born July 17, 1957) is an American wine critic and food critic for ''The New York Times''.
Early life
Asimov was born in Bethpage, New York, the son of Stanley Asimov, former vice-president for editorial administration at ''News ...
of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' cited Twomey's 2009 Anderson Valley Pinot noir as "one of our favorites, bigger and softer but with both finesse and intensity."
Personal life
Baron resides in
Napa, California
Napa is the largest city and county seat of Napa County and a principal city of Wine Country in Northern California. Located in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, the city had a population of 77,480 as of the end of 2021. Napa is a major t ...
, with his wife, Gwyneth; they have three children together who are now of adult age. He has been active on boards such as the
American Society of Enology and Viticulture, the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group, Congregation Beth Sholom and the
Napa Valley Youth Symphony, and is a keen surfer, sailor, snowboarder, martial artist and
mandolin
A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...
player in his spare time.
References
External links
Biography at Silver Oak Cellars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baron, Daniel
American winemakers
1949 births
Living people
People from Long Island
People from Napa, California
Food and drink in the San Francisco Bay Area
University of California, Davis alumni