Daniel Baron

Daniel Baron
Born	1949
Nationality	American
Occupation	Winemaker

Daniel Baron (born 1949) is an American winemaker. He is best known for his work with the Duncan family-owned Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars, and is Director of Winemaking for both. Originally a field worker for John Rolleri at Chateau Montelena, he gained experience in the Bordeaux region of France and was mentored by the likes of grape geneticist Professor Harold Olmo, and winemakers Jean-Claude Berrouet and Justin Meyer. He became general manager of Christian Moueix's Dominus Estate in the 1980s. He became winemaker for Silver Oak, an exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon producer, in 1994, and was trained by Justin Meyer to follow in his footsteps as Silver Oak's winemaker before Meyer’s retirement in 2001. In 1999, Baron was instrumental in persuading the Duncans to establish Twomey to pursue Merlot, Pinot noir, and Sauvignon blanc after discovering high quality Merlot grapes on Silver Oak’s Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard. He has served on boards such as the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group.

Baron grew up on Long Island, New York. He describes himself as a "beach rat", and his first job was working as a lifeguard at Jones Beach. However, after his freshman year in college, he tested positive for mononucleosis, and was rejected for a second term as a lifeguard. Without a job, he drove to San Francisco with friends and settled in Sonoma County in 1968, and from 1971 he worked as a tractor driver and field worker under vineyard manager John Rolleri at Chateau Montelena. While working there he developed an interest in winemaking and was taught the basics of viticulture by Rolleri, who taught him how to plant, prune, and harvest. He enrolled at University of California Davis in 1974. Over four years he obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in viticulture and enology. He received Highest Honors for his Bachelor of Science, Plant Science Major before obtaining a Master of Science in Horticulture. During his studies there he was mentored by grape geneticist Professor Harold Olmo. After graduation, Baron was employed as a vineyard manager and assistant winemaker at Navarro Vineyards in the Anderson Valley.

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