Raymond T. Duncan was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2012.

[1][2] In the 1970s, Duncan began to buy land in both the Napa and Alexander Valleys with the goal of planting vineyards and growing and selling grapes; he had no original intentions of entering the winery business.

[5] Named after its location between Oakville and the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley,[2] Duncan and Meyer's vision for Silver Oak was to devote all their resources to producing a single wine – Cabernet Sauvignon.

[2] Growth of the company from 1977 onwards enabled Silver Oak to purchase further vineyards in the 1980s and early 1990s, becoming one of the most successful Cabernet Sauvignon brands of the 1980s.

[13] He has been involved in numerous philanthropic pursuits, including his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, which named Duncan Hall (a men's dormitory) and the Duncan Student Center after him, and has provided investment into the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center near Cortez, Colorado, the Denver Art Museum, and Castle Pines Golf Club, of which he founded.

[15] Pat Kettles of The Anniston Star stated that Duncan is "constantly looking for ways to improve Silver Oak by acquiring properties whose fruit reflects the unique flavors of their terroir.

He works to maintain vineyard properties by farming sustainably, thus preserving Silver Oak’s heritage for future generations.