Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of California's most recognized wines, aged entirely in American oak, a deliberate choice that produces a style of unmistakable richness and approachability that has made the winery one of the most collected in the state. The Alexander Valley bottling is the more immediately accessible of the two Silver Oak Cabernets (the Napa following a similar philosophy at a higher price point), and it remains a reliable and enjoyable expression of warm-climate Sonoma Cabernet done at scale.
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: the wine that started it all in 1972; silken and bright-fruited, aged exclusively in American oak and bottle-aged for drinkability on release.
Silver Oak makes only Cabernet Sauvignon. It ages every wine in American oak from its own Missouri cooperage, and its Alexander Valley bottling (a Cabernet-dominant blend with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot) is a restaurant-list staple. The Alexander Valley Cabernet Vertical, booked at the winery, pours several vintages side by side.
The Silver Oak story began with a handshake between Raymond Twomey Duncan and Justin Meyer in 1972 and a single bold premise: one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, aged exclusively in American oak and built to drink well for decades. In 2017 Silver Oak opened its second estate here in Alexander Valley, a modern, barn-inspired winery on a 113-acre property planted to 75 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. It was the first winery in the world to earn LEED Platinum certification for new construction: more than 2,500 solar panels cover the roof, and the siding is made from the slats of old redwood wine tanks. Walk-in guests are welcome as availability permits; the Silver Oak Tasting, the Silver Tour, and an estate vineyard hike are booked ahead, and groups of 8 or more arrange their visit directly with the winery.
