By Bonny Meyer
A moving, behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of Napa Valley’s most legendary wineries, Silver Oak Cellars. Bonny Meyer, co-founder and wife of wine legend Justin Meyer, provides an intimate portrayal of the love affair that infused Silver Oak’s magical cabernet.
BIO
Bonny Meyer began thinking and writing about the nature of love when she was fifteen. She met Brother Justin shortly after she turned eighteen at his 29th birthday party. They spent that evening playing music together igniting the love affair that changed their lives and ultimately spawned Silver Oak Cellars.
Napa Valley vintners, inspired by the extraordinary success and reputation of Silver Oak Cabernets focused more and more on that variety. Today, Cabernet is considered the king of the Napa Valley red wines with some bottles commanding as much as $1,000. Its flavor profile displays a wide variety of black fruits, including currant, cherry and plum, often showing notes of spice from American or French oak barrel aging. It pairs beautifully with robust red meat dishes such as game, lamb, aged steaks, cheeses, and love.
After establishing and growing Silver Oak and the unexpected death of Justin, Bonny devoted her attention to addressing world environmental, social, and economic challenges by financially supporting social ventures. She has been acknowledged by Forbes Magazine and the financial industry as a pioneer of impact and regenerative investing.
After years of encouragement to write about their love affair, she decided to share the story of how she and Justin met, fell in love, and created a business and wines infused with their values and love for one another.
Today, Bonny Meyer is the Principal of Meyer Family Enterprises, an investment company dedicated to the regeneration of the planet and society. After selling Silver Oak Cellars in 2001, Bonny is now a partner in Meyer Family Cellars, a winery run by her son, Matt, and daughter-in-law, Karen.
Bonny lives in the old redwood farmhouse surrounded by Cabernet vines in the middle of the Napa Valley where she and her beloved, Justin, raised their family.
Latest Vlog
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
The Kenny G concert was perfection! Rick and I started the evening at the new Napa Tiki Bar, Wilfreds, where we had Hawaiian food local style. The pineapple fried rice was particularly ono! Then we walked the short distance to The Blue Note where Kenny G began his concert walking through the audience. While Kenny’s iconic smooth jazz filled the Napa Opera House his longtime backup band rounded out the sound with heartwarming gentle humor and musical rapport.
Join us at the Calistoga Spa for the Meyer Family Enterprises Christmas party. The hot pools were the perfect place to hang out and swap stories after our delicious dinner at Brasswood. Everyone loved continuing our dinner conversations while sitting around the poolside fire pit or soaking in the warm pools. Being at the Calistoga Spa brought back many great memories of teaching my children how to swim in the comfortable bathtub warm water.
Join us as we come together for a Friendsgiving hosted by Kirsten and Adam in their Seattle home. It begins with adult beverages as we wait for our Covid Rapid Test results. Delighted anticipation is high as hot potatoes and butter are fed into Ben’s potato cannon. The meal ends with pecan pie, chocolates, and my infamous Pumpkin Something.
Wilford Welch talks with me about his deep concern that humanity may not rise to meet the challenge of climate change in time to avoid catastrophic disaster. He offers his book “In Our Hands” free to anyone who wishes to download it from his website. Our future is clearly in our hands.
Join me for our local Dia de los Muertos celebration. There is music, decorated skulls, elaborate altars honoring family members who have died, revelers in costume with painted faces, and of course great food. I hope this video brings you delight and serves as an invitation to attend this fiesta next year.
Just after the last grapes are harvested and before the first rains, we sow a carefully chosen seed mix that will germinate and grow over the winter into the early summer, contributing to healthier soil beneath the vines and attracting beneficial insects. Working with nature in this way contributes to a better environment and results in better, more delicious wines. Yum!
Events
NEW for 2022
Schedule a BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION or AUTHOR’S CONVERSATION & READING with Bonny Meyer
Bonny Meyer is available to meet with your Book Club (in person or virtual) to discuss Perfectly Paired: The Love Affair Behind Silver Oak Cellars.
To get more information, or to schedule a reading, please contact Bonny.
Thurs., May 19
AUTHOR’S BOOK TALK & WINE TASTING with Bonny Meyer
Bonny’s Author’s Book Talk & Wine Tasting has been re-scheduled to Thursday, May 19, 2022 at Sausalito Books By The Bay. Located at 100 Bay Street (in Sausalito), the event will begin at 6:00pm with a mix and mingle, while sipping Meyer Family Cellars’ and Silver Oak wines. Cheryl Popp and Bonny Meyer will chat about Perfectly Paired. There will be a reading and guests will have an opportunity to ask questions. This event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.
