History
Daou Vineyards was founded in 2007 by Lebanese-born brothers Georges and Daniel Daou in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, California, on DAOU Mountain, after fleeing Lebanon's civil war in 1975, living in France where they developed a passion for wine, and selling their tech company DAOU Systems. Daniel, the winemaker, had experimented with winemaking in his San Diego garage, while Georges handled business; they chose the site's calcareous clay soils, praised by André Tchelistcheff as a "jewel of ecological elements." In 2023, Treasury Wine Estates acquired the estate for nearly $1 billion, with the brothers remaining involved as founders, Daniel as chief winemaker, overseeing about 400 acres focused on Bordeaux varieties.
Viticulture Philosophy
Daou emphasizes sustainable practices on DAOU Mountain, holding SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification through biodiversity promotion, soil health via organic cover crops, water conservation, and integrated pest management. High vine density (2,200-2,500 vines/acre), hand-pruning to 10-12 clusters per vine, low yields, and nighttime hand-harvesting preserve flavor concentration, balance, and terroir expression amid coastal winds and diatomaceous earth soils. The approach treats the land as a custodianship, fostering wildlife and resilience while prioritizing Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux grapes.
Winemaking Techniques
Daniel Daou oversees meticulous production starting with hand-sorting and destemming, followed by cold soak for color and tannin extraction in reds, fermentation with proprietary DAOU Mountain yeast at controlled temperatures, and full malolactic fermentation. Wines age 18-31 months in custom-toasted French oak barrels, blending clones like Swan and Calera for complexity; key offerings include 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Chardonnay Estate, and blends like Eye of the Falcon (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot). Minimal intervention highlights Paso Robles' calcareous profile, yielding polished, age-worthy wines rivaling Napa.
Critics and Journalist Praises
Daou garners acclaim for Paso Robles' top Bordeaux-style wines, with Wine Spectator noting its Cabernet Sauvignon as rivaling Napa's best (2017) and Wine Enthusiast ranking it top 10 Cabernet of 2019. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate called a bottling "the finest 100% Cabernet Sauvignon I've tasted from Paso Robles" (2015), while Jeb Dunnuck states they "compete with the best of Napa Valley" (2018). Vinous praises the "deeply flavored, expressive, polished wines" standing "toe-to-toe with the best that Napa has to offer," and Connoisseur's Guide highlights them as "some of the finest wines to hail from Paso Robles" (2021).
