Jean-Claude Berrouet

Winemaker, Twomey Cellars

Hired by the Duncan Family in 2012, Jean-Claude Berrouet works closely with Director of Winemaking Daniel Baron in the production of Twomey Soda Canyon Vineyard Merlot. Baron and Berrouet have been friends and colleagues for many years, going back to the early 1980's when Baron worked with Berrouet at Chateau Pétrus in Bordeaux.

Baron often credits his time at Pétrus as one of the inspirations that led to Twomey Cellars. It was there, under the tutelage of Berrouet, that Baron first learned the technique known as soutirage traditionnel, the labor intensive method of racking from barrel to barrel that he has practiced with Twomey Merlot since it was first produced in 1999.

"It is a dream come true to work with Jean-Claude again after almost a 20-year hiatus. Much of my style of winemaking is based on his aesthetic. He knows how to combine subtlety, intensity and balance in a wine and his joy of living comes through in every glass," says Baron.

Country born: France

Education: Jean-Claude Berrouet became the first permanent winemaker at Chateau Pétrustrus when he was in his early 20's, recruited by Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1964. He oversaw 44 vintages there, working side by side with the Moueix family and making the wines responsible for Chateau Pétrus' rise to international prominence and acclaim.

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Berrouet is considered to be one of the foremost proponents of "classicist" winemaking. His wines are balanced, true to their origins and capable of cellaring. With a lifelong passion in poetry as well as wine, his philosophy has been for wines to express their terroir, always favoring elegance over extraction.

Daniel Baron

Winemaker, Twomey Cellars

I began working in the vineyards of Knights Valley for John Rolleri in 1971. In 1975, I enrolled at UC Davis and completed my Bachelors and Masters degrees under grape geneticist Harold Olmo. I moved to Anderson Valley in 1978 where I worked as vineyard manager and assistant winemaker at Navarro Vineyards. In 1981, I decided to fulfill my dream to work in Bordeaux. When my first opportunity didn’t pan out as expected, I stayed in France, traveling to many wine regions and working in seven different chateaux throughout the Bordeaux region during the 1981 harvest. I became fluent in the language and learned the business and social customs. In France, you don’t do business until you share a meal. That made a big impression on me.

A chance meeting with Christian Moueix led to a one-year internship at the Chateau Petrus in Pomerol, and there I was befriended by winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, cellarmaster Jean Veyssiere and his son Francois. They taught me about wine as a part of culture and how history, quality and tradition are intertwined with the practical aspects of winemaking. After the 1982 vintage, Christian Moueix put me in charge of his new winery in Napa Valley, Dominus Estate.

I worked at Dominus from 1982 to 1994, rising to general manager, when a quirky newspaper ad placed by Justin Meyer of Silver Oak Cellars caught my attention. Justin was looking to name his succesor. We hit it off immediately, and although I wasn’t sure about leaving Dominus, Justin wouldn’t take no for an answer. I worked side by side with Justin until his retirement in 2001.

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.

Country born: United States

Education: Bachelor of Science, Plant Science Major, UC Davis graduation with Highest Honors, 1976 Master of Science in Horticulture, UC Davis, 1981
Mentors: John Rolleri, Chateau Montelena;
Dr. Harold Olmo, UC Davis;
Ted Bennett, Navarro Vineyards;
Christiane Moueix, Jean-Claude Berrouet, Michel Gillet, Jean and Francois Veyssiere, Ets JP Moueix;
Justin Meyer, Silver Oak Cellars

Years in the wine industry: years

Honors / Awards:
Citation for Outstanding Performance, Plant Science Major, 1976
Department Citation for Outstanding Undergraduate Accomplishment in Viticulture and Enology, 1976
Board Member, American Society of Enology
President, Napa Valley Wine Technical Group

Winemaking Philosophy:
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.

Daniel Baron

Winemaker, Twomey Cellars

I began working in the vineyards of Knights Valley for John Rolleri in 1971. In 1975, I enrolled at UC Davis and completed my Bachelors and Masters degrees under grape geneticist Harold Olmo. I moved to Anderson Valley in 1978, where I worked as vineyard manager and assistant winemaker at Navarro Vineyards. In 1981, I decided to fulfill my dream to work in Bordeaux. When my first opportunity didn’t pan out as expected, I stayed in France, traveling to many wine regions and working in seven different chateaux throughout the Bordeaux region during the 1981 harvest. I became fluent in the language and learned the business and social customs. In France, you don’t do business until you share a meal. That made a big impression on me.

A chance meeting with Christian Moueix led to a one-year internship at the Chateau Petrus in Pomerol, and there I was befriended by winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, cellarmaster Jean Veyssiere and his son Francois. They taught me about wine as a part of culture and how history, quality and tradition are intertwined with the practical aspects of winemaking. After the 1982 vintage, Christian Moueix put me in charge of his new winery in Napa Valley, Dominus Estate.

I worked at Dominus from 1982 to 1994, rising to general manager, when a quirky newspaper ad placed by Justin Meyer of Silver Oak Cellars caught my attention. Justin was looking to name his succesor. We hit it off immediately, and although I wasn’t sure about leaving Dominus, Justin wouldn’t take no for an answer. I worked side by side with Justin until his retirement in 2001. 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.

Country born: United States

Education: Bachelor of Science, Plant Science Major, UC Davis graduation with Highest Honors, 1976 Master of Science in Horticulture, UC Davis, 1981
Mentors: John Rolleri, Chateau Montelena;
Dr. Harold Olmo, UC Davis;
Ted Bennett, Navarro Vineyards;
Christiane Moueix, Jean-Claude Berrouet, Michel Gillet, Jean and Francois Veyssiere, Ets JP Moueix;
Justin Meyer, Silver Oak Cellars

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Honors / Awards:
Citation for Outstanding Performance, Plant Science Major, 1976
Department Citation for Outstanding Undergraduate Accomplishment in Viticulture and Enology, 1976
Board Member, American Society of Enology
President, Napa Valley Wine Technical Group

Winemaking Philosophy:
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.