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 other than Cabernet Sauvignon. Twomey has three wineries: one in Calistoga in the Napa Valley; one in Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley; one in Philo in Anderson Valley, and produces mainly Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc. Twomey’s Sauvignon blanc is a blend of Sauvignon blanc grapes from their estate vineyards at their wineries in Napa Valley, Anderson Valley, and Russian River Valley.
Twomey is named after Ray Duncan's mother, Velma Marie Twomey Duncan. Nate Weis is Director of Winemaking for both Twomey and Silver Oak. In 2007, Twomey hired Ben Cane, a Pinot noir specialist who became Twomey’s Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc Winemaker in 2008. Twomey's 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot noir was awarded first place in the American Wine Society's National Tasting Project in 2012. As of 2017 Twomey produces about 20,000 cases a year.
History
Twomey began with the Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard located in southeastern Napa Valley. Ray Duncan and the Duncan family purchased Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard in 1999 for Silver Oak’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, but Daniel Baron, former Director of Winemaking for Silver Oak, discovered it was planted with high class French Merlot clones, and persuaded the Duncans to venture into producing it and establish a new company.
Twomey’s Merlot was a single vineyard wine made with grapes grown at Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard. In 2000 Twomey acquired the West Pin Vineyard in the Russian River Valley to begin making Russian River Valley Pinot noir in addition to the single vineyard Napa Valley Merlot. As production of Twomey wines continued to increase, the Duncan family believed that Twomey needed a winery of its own. In 2003, the Duncans purchased Stonegate Winery in Calistoga to become the home of Twomey. Twomey’s Calistoga winery, which is surrounded by a Sauvignon blanc vineyard, is situated in a palatial farmhouse-like building, featuring an open tasting room with sleek slate floors and a black, polished bar.
In 2006, the Duncan family purchased Roshambo Winery in Healdsburg to establish a second winery for Twomey. This winery, dedicated to the production of Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc, has glass walls and curving roofs shaped like the contours of the nearby hills. The winery was overhauled for a period of about 2 years to convert it into a Pinot noir production facility, introducing small (2- and 5-ton) open top fermentors, with temperature closely controlled by separate heating and chilling plates.
In 2007, Ben Cane was hired to oversee the production of Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc. In May 2012, noted winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet joined Twomey as winemaking consultant, working closely with Director of Winemaking Daniel Baron in the production of Twomey's Napa Valley Merlot. Jean-Claude Berrouet served as the winemaker and technical director at Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix for 44 vintages. During his tenure at Etablissement Jean-Pierre Moueix, he was responsible for the production of their line-up of wines from Pomerol and St. Emilion, including the Chateau Petrus. In July 2014, Cane departed Twomey for Westwood Wines, and was replaced by Erin Miller, a winemaker with considerable previous experience working for Provingage Wine Associates, Evening Land Vineyards, the Hartford Family Winery and Kendall-Jackson’s Vinwood Cellars. Nate Weis joined the same year and then replaced Daniel Baron in 2017 when Baron retired. Miller has since been succeeded by Justin Hirigoyen. In 2017, Twomey and Silver Oak signed an agreement with the San Francisco Giants, becoming their first official wine partner. As of 2017 Twomey produces about 20,000 cases a year.
Vineyards
Twomey’s Calistoga Estate Vineyard, surrounding the Calistoga Winery, and Healdsburg Estate Vineyard, on the Healdsburg winery property, are planted with Sauvignon Blanc. Their sources of fruit for their Merlot, Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc wines come from estate-owned vineyards in the Napa, Russian River and Anderson Valleys, and from independent partner growers who have a contract with Twomey to grow grapes for them. The Duncan family’s purchase of the Soda Canyon Ranch vineyard in 1999 in southeastern Napa Valley was the impetus for Twomey’s creation. They originally purchased Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard to produce Cabernet Sauvignon for Silver Oak. Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard is located in the rolling hills of southeastern Napa Valley and its volcanic soils are tightly planted with French Merlot clones.