Sonoma
Twomey
The Duncan family’s exploration beyond Cabernet, crafting site-driven Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc from estate vineyards across California and Oregon.
Overview
Twomey sits on Westside Road, about two miles south of Healdsburg’s town square, right in the heart of Russian River Valley’s best Pinot Noir country. It’s the sister winery to Silver Oak, founded by the same Duncan family, but with a completely different focus. Where Silver Oak is all about Cabernet Sauvignon, Twomey is built around Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, with fruit sourced from estate vineyards in Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and as far as Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Healdsburg location is where the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc are actually made, so tastings here put you steps from the production cellar.
History
The Duncan brothers (David, Tim, Mike, and Kevin) founded Twomey in 1999 as a way to explore varietals beyond Silver Oak’s Cabernet. The name comes from their grandmother Velma’s maiden name, Twomey. They started with Merlot from a Soda Canyon Ranch vineyard in Napa, then acquired the Westpin Vineyard in Russian River Valley in 2000 to begin making Pinot Noir. The Healdsburg winery came in 2006 when they purchased the former Roshambo Winery on Westside Road. They’ve since built out a portfolio of estate vineyards across multiple appellations and dropped Merlot entirely after the 2016 vintage to focus on Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. In early 2025, the Calistoga and Anderson Valley tasting rooms closed permanently, making the Russian River Valley location their sole tasting room.
Sustainability
Twomey farms sustainably across their estate vineyards and works with long-term partner growers who share that approach. Their winemaking is intentionally minimalist: whole cluster fermentation where it makes sense, a restrained French oak program, and a general philosophy of letting the vineyard site do the talking rather than overhandling the wine. It’s less about certifications and more about a consistent set of practices across a large and geographically diverse vineyard portfolio.
Atmosphere
The building has a modern, low-slung design with a curving roof that follows the hillside contours. Glass walls open onto wraparound patios with panoramic views of Mount St. Helena and Geyser Peak. It’s polished and well-designed without feeling corporate. The indoor tasting room is bright and airy, and the back patio is one of the nicer spots to sit with a glass anywhere along Westside Road. The whole property feels like it belongs in the landscape rather than sitting on top of it.
Experience
Tastings are seated, about an hour, inside or on the patio. There are a few tasting options ranging from an appellation overview to a single-vineyard flight that compares site-specific Pinots from different regions and terroirs side by side. That one is genuinely eye-opening. The hosts know their stuff and let you set the pace, and you can add a provisions board if you want something to graze on. It’s a relaxed, unpressured visit that works equally well for Pinot enthusiasts and people still figuring out what they like.
Unique Elements
- The Single Vineyard tasting is essentially a multi-appellation Pinot Noir seminar, comparing sites from Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and single vineyards like Monument Tree and Last Stop.
- It’s the only remaining Twomey tasting room, and the production facility is on-site, so guided tours walk you through the actual cellar where the wines are made.
- The Silver Oak connection means the Founders Flight lets you taste from both brands in one visit.
