The Oak Journal 3 Lessons I Learned From My Father
3 Lessons I Learned From My Father
Behind the Scenes

3 Lessons I Learned From My Father

By David R. Duncan

I often think about my dad, Raymond Twomey Duncan. I think about him when I celebrate milestones with my own children, when I open a bottle of Timeless Napa Valley and whenever we pour Twomey Sauvignon Blanc. (Dad enjoyed the white varietal—always with a couple cubes of ice—and we opened bottles for a toast in his honor on the day he passed.) I also think about his guidance, whether direct and intentional or unbeknownst to him (and me at the time).

Here are a few lessons that I’d like to share.

  1. Be open to new experiences.

    When I was 14 years old, Dad sent me to work on a ranch. Of course, I was reluctant. I loved the outdoors, but I wanted to hang out with my friends. (Ah, the priorities of a teenager.)

    What was intended to be a one-week stint turned into a five-summer passion. I learned how to farm, ride horses and work cattle. I worked 10-hour days for six days a week and loved every minute of it. At the end of each summer, Dad would show up: “School starts on Monday. You need to come home.”

    Those summers on the farm taught me what it meant to work hard. They also taught me to keep an open mind.

  2. Do what you love.

    As an entrepreneur, Dad had many interests. Prior to Silver Oak, he founded Purgatory Resort in Durango, CO, in 1965. Although different businesses, he was passionate about each. This taught me not only to diversify but also professionally develop in an area of personal interest.

    At the end of my studies for my MBA, I was tasked to work on a business plan—like a thesis for business students. I researched various companies to audit but landed on Silver Oak. The 30-page assignment wasn’t intended to change the entire trajectory of my life, but it led to our family acquiring full ownership of the winery in 2001. It also allowed me to move to Napa, where I could help run the best team in the business.

  3. "Onward and upward!"

    This was a phrase Dad would always use. He had high expectations of everyone and was always pushing forward. Little did I know that it would teach me to be resilient—and also work as the perfect sign-off for every Timeless Napa Valley email.

    In 2006, a fire devastated the winery in Oakville. When we gathered at Dad’s house, I remember the tears on all our faces. Our former CFO Rickie Pina asked: “What are we going to do now?” In that moment, the only answer that made sense to me was: “We rebuild.” And we did just that.

    Today, I can say that the fire was one of the best things that could have happened—because the new winery has allowed our wines to elevate to a new level.