Our Winemaker

Daniel H. Baron was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to California in 1968, where he got his first taste of winemaking working in the vineyards of Sonoma County. After completing his master’s studies in viticulture and enology at U.C. Davis in 1978, he worked as an assistant winemaker and vineyard manager in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley before traveling to France to visit the great wine regions and work for two vintages in Bordeaux. This sabbatical dramatically shaped Daniel’s approach. “In the old world, wine was an integral part of daily life, and the pursuit of excellence was the driving force behind every decision made in the vineyard or winery,” he says. “That’s what I strive for as a winemaker.”

Returning to California in 1982, Daniel launched a new winery in the Napa Valley, soon rising to the position of general manager. In 1994, Silver Oak co-founder Justin Meyer selected Daniel to succeed him as winemaker. Daniel remembers, “Justin was a great mentor, and he instilled in me both pride in what Silver Oak had accomplished and the humility to realize that there is always room to improve. He encouraged me to constantly search for ways to raise the already high level of quality of Silver Oak wines.”

Known for his diligence and attention to detail, Daniel can often be seen walking the rows of our vineyards during the harvest, tasting fruit from each block to determine when it will be ready to be picked.

“Silver Oak’s unwavering focus on one varietal enables us to continually improve and refine our craft.”

~Daniel Baron, Director of Winemaking

Visit Daniel Baron’s Winemaker’s Journal for a behind-the-scenes look at our winemaking process.