Raymond Duncan (entrepreneur) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Duncan
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| Born |
Raymond Twomey Duncan
October 23, 1930 Lasalle, Illinois
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| Died | October 9, 2015 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur Vintner |
Raymond Twomey Duncan (born October 23, 1930 – died October 9, 2015), known as Ray Duncan, was an American businessman and wine maker. He first worked in the oil business in Colorado. He started a company called Duncan Oil.
Later, in 1972, he co-founded Silver Oak Cellars with Justin Meyer. This became a very successful winery in the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley areas. Today, his sons David Duncan and Tim Duncan run Silver Oak Cellars. They also manage another winery called Twomey Cellars.
Ray Duncan also started the Durango Mountain "Purgatory" Ski Resort in 1965. He was a leader for the ski industry group Colorado Ski Country USA. In 2006, he was honored and added to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was also inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.
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Ray Duncan's Early Life
Ray Duncan was born in Illinois in 1930. He went to the University of Notre Dame and finished his studies in 1952.
In 1958, Duncan moved to Durango, Colorado. He went there to help his father look for oil and gas. He then started his own company, Duncan Oil Inc. This company moved its main office to Denver in 1968.
Starting a Ski Resort
In 1965, Ray Duncan created the Durango Mountain "Purgatory" Ski Resort. He was very involved in the ski industry. He even became the chairman, or leader, of Colorado Ski Country USA. Because of his work, he was added to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2006.
Creating Silver Oak Cellars
In the 1970s, Ray Duncan started buying land in the Napa and Alexander Valleys. He wanted to grow grapes and sell them. He didn't plan to start a winery at first.
Duncan met Justin Meyer through friends. He asked Meyer to plant and take care of his vineyards. Meyer agreed, but he also wanted to start a winery. Duncan liked the idea, and so Silver Oak was founded in 1972.
The winery was named Silver Oak because it was located between Oakville and the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. Duncan and Meyer decided to focus on making only one type of wine: Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak still does this today.
Making Fine Wine
In 1972, Duncan bought a dairy farm in Oakville, Napa Valley. This is where the Silver Oak Napa Valley winery is now. The first wine from Silver Oak was made on this farm in 1972. The grapes came from Silver Oak's Alexander Valley vineyards.
Duncan and Meyer wanted to make the best Cabernet Sauvignon wine in the world. They decided to age the wine in special American oak barrels for 25 months. Then, they would age it in bottles for another 15 to 20 months before selling it.
Silver Oak made 1,100 cases of its first wine in 1972. A "case" is usually 12 bottles. That same year, Duncan and Meyer started planting their first Napa Valley vineyard. Seven years later, they used grapes from this vineyard to make their first Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
As the company grew, Silver Oak bought more vineyards in the 1980s and early 1990s. It became one of the most successful Cabernet Sauvignon brands. In 2001, Justin Meyer sold his part of the company to Ray Duncan.
Ray Duncan's Legacy
Ray Duncan had four sons: Michael, Kevin, Tim, and David. His son David Duncan is now the President and CEO of Duncan Oil Inc. and Silver Oak. Tim Duncan is the Vice President of Silver Oak. Both David and Tim also manage Twomey Cellars, which Ray Duncan started with all four of his sons.
Michael Duncan manages the family's Diamond Tail Ranch in northern Colorado. Kevin Duncan is a vice president at Duncan Oil in Denver. Ray Duncan was always looking for ways to make Silver Oak better. He wanted to keep the land healthy for future generations. Even in 2012, Ray Duncan would still sign autographs at Silver Oak events.
Ray Duncan passed away in Denver on October 9, 2015, at the age of 84.
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Ray Duncan
