Passing of Two California Wine Industry Icons

The California wine industry lost two of it's iconic founders this last week. Raymond Duncan,  co-founder of Silver Oak Cellars, helping to raise the California Cabernet Saubignon to the status it holds today. He also opened another cellar with his sons, Twomey Cellers. Twomey produces Merlot using the "soutirage traditionne" from the Bordeaux region, they also have several varieties of Pinot Nior and Sauvignon Blancs. via - Wine Spectator 

The Schug Winery lost their father and founder this past weekend, and California lost the Pinot Nior champion, pushing it before it was popular and always believing in it, having been raised on a Pinot vineyard in Germany’s Rhine River Valley. One of the pioneers of the wildly popular Meritage, blend wines. One of the first to recognizing the potential in the Carneros region. via -  The Press Democrat

Our hearts go out to these two families as they mourn the loss of their patriarchs.