GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XLIII
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
BUSINESS
Daou Vineyards sells to Australian-owned company for nearly $1 billion Daou brothers plan to remain closely involved in winery and vineyard business By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — An Australian-owned global company has purchased a Paso Robles-based winery and vineyard for nearly $1 billion. Announced on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) acquired DAOU Vineyards for an upfront amount of $900 million, plus an additional earn-out of up to $100 million. The global company TWE is currently established as a global luxury wine leader. According to TWE’s press release, DAOU will fill the company’s portfolio opportunity for Treasury Americas in the $20-$40 range, as well as strengthen its luxury portfolio in the $40+ range. Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou founded their wine brand in 2007 in the Adelaida District in Paso Robles. The two grew up in Beirut, enjoying rural life on their grandfather’s olive
EDUCATION
AUSD receives district-wide Food Service update School board celebrates Executive Director of Technology Candy Smet’s retirement after 28 years By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
DANIEL DAOU groves. However, after the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1973, life changed, and the family moved to France two years later. While in France, wine and vineyards became a way of life. Eventually, the brothers landed in the Adelaida District. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of this year, includes over 400
ARTISTS
GEORGES DAOU
acres of DAOU property. Altogether, the business deal includes the DAOU brand, DAOU Mountain Estate, and hospitality site, four boutique luxury wineries, and around 400 acres of vineyards. It is reported that DAOU Mountain tasting room welcomes 90,000 visitors annually and the brand has been marked as one of the fastest-grow-
ing luxury wine brands in the United States. In the TWE press release it states the Daou brothers will remain involved in the business with Georges as founder and Daniel as founder and chief winemaker. In response to their acquisition deal, the Daou brothers said, “The last frontier has always been international, and
as part of the Treasury Wine Estates portfolio, we have unlocked the potential to be amongst the highest-end wines for consumers to enjoy globally. In Treasury Wine Estates, we have found a partner that not only understands the value of our brand and the premium assets we have cultivated but also the importance CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) met for their regularly scheduled trustee meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. The AUSD recognized three of their employees near the beginning of the meeting. Learning Center Teacher Nate Ballinger was recognized for the District Core Value of Excellence at San Benito Elementary School. Tradesworker and Carpenter Glen Penland was also recognized for the District Core Value of Excellence. Penland supervises the district’s bus hub in the afternoons and was CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
MUSIC
Youth Competition Winners pianists stun audience The recital was part of this year’s Paderewski Festival By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Amy Languell is shown at her Nomadic Cat Studios booth at the 18th Annual Holiday Boutique at Atascadero Lake Park. Photo by Christianna Marks
Local artisans head to Atascadero Lake Park to sell holiday goods Atascadero’s Holiday Boutique was back for the 18th year By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — People from all over the North Country headed to the Atascadero Lake Park on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to
NEWS
check out the 50-plus vendors at the 18th annual Holiday Boutique. Each and every one of the vendors had handmade items for sale. “I’m primarily making polymer clay jewelry, but also just jewelry in general and some other goodies like wine stoppers,” said Kayla Morrow, owner of Kayla Mae Makes. CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
CRIME
NORTH COUNTY — The community came out to celebrate up-and-coming pianists at the Youth Competition Winners’ Recital on Saturday, Nov. 4. The recital, always a part of the Paderewski Festival’s lineup for the weekend, included seven talented youths playing a classical repertoire of music that was a feast for the ears. Each performer played the beautiful piano in the Park Ballroom in Paso Robles. “My favorite part is when the young people perform. Your participation in the arts allows the arts to continue through the next generation, your sponsorship of Paderewski, your support, and your attendance,” stated Master of Ceremonies James Brescia at the start of the recital. “And those of you who are parents and or teachers out there in the audience, your
persistence and your patience as these young people move forward in their craft is equitable.” Coming in third place in the Junior Division, the first performer of the afternoon was Noelle Hadsall, 14, from Goleta, playing Chopin. She’s been a prizewinner in the youth competitions since 2017 and
visited Poland in 2019 with the Paderewski Festival’s Cultural Exchange Program. “One of the wonderful things about visitors coming to this country and our children coming to different countries is we learn to appreciate other cultures and other individuals, and that’s the deal with this program,” stated Brescia in
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
WEATHER
(From left) Noelle Hadsall, Jiyoo Kim-Jung, Sela Yarbrough, Anna Albright, Ellen Butler, Sarah Gutshall, and Suri Kim take a bow after their recital. Photo by Christianna Marks
Hadsall’s introduction. Taking the stage next was Jiyoo Kim-Jung, 14, who was second place in the Junior Division. Also from Goleta, Kim-Jung has played pianos internationally. She graced the audience with a selection from Claude Debussy. “It’s always an honor to be CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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