In her moving new book, Perfectly Paired: The Love Affair Behind Silver Oak Cellars (May 2020), Bonny Meyer, beloved co-founder of Silver Oak Cellars, begins with the idea of “alchemy,” which she defines as “the powerful transformation from something ordinary into something extraordinary.” Such was her life, in love and wine, as she and her husband followed their dreams and started the iconic Silver Oak winery. Through a heart-felt exploration of her life, Meyer weaves her beautiful story of love and loss, passion and grief, set in the romantic era of Napa Valley as it rose to world-renowned fame in the latter half of the century. Through short chapters that move back and forth in time, she begins with the tragedy of her husband’s death and then takes the reader on the journey of their life together. Bonny met Justin, a monk and accidental winemaker, at UC Davis. For the next thirty years, they raised a family alongside owning and establishing two wineries. The first vintage of Silver Oak was crushed the week they were married, and their son was born the same week they purchased Franciscan Winery. From there, every step of their family life was intricately intertwined with wine. In the golden years of Napa Valley, a young winemaker with a dream could make anything happen. Opportunities were plentiful for those who were bright and motivated, and Silver Oak carved a niche for itself as one of Napa’s first boutique wineries. Along with a few prominent wineries of the time, they helped revolutionize Napa Valley, solidifying Cabernet as king and making handcrafted wines in small quantities. Throughout the book, she takes you on the evolution from the original 500-acre dairy farm and winemaking in the milk barn to world-class vineyards and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities. Ultimately, the book is a love story, detailing the passion that nourished them and supported them through the ups and downs of life and business. As she points out, “great relationships can create and grow a beautiful business and a beautiful life.” The author is thoughtful and insightful, including her own poetry in tender moments where her heart is full. Through her deep grief and abiding love, she shares wisdom and advice for living a full life with purpose. Today, Bonny Meyer is the Principal of Meyer Family Enterprises, an investment company dedicated to the regeneration of the planet and society. Honoring her husband’s memory to be more “genuine and generous, living boldly with personal integrity, unpretentious self-confidence and joyful humor,” she has built a company that embodies those ideals. ABOUT THE AUTHOR 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. Find out more about Bonny Meyer at https://www.bonnymeyer.com/ and https://www.mfenterprises.com/about-us

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