OUR CALLING To make California “first growth” wine from DAOU Mountain, fulfilling the Adelaida District’s destiny as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties.
JOURNEY Georges and Daniel both dreamed of a winemaking life long before they came to the United States. It was an aspiration rooted in their agrarian heritage in Lebanon and inspired by their father’s love of fine wine while growing up in France. Driven by the promise of a land where intellect, hard work and passion amount to success, the Daou brothers immigrated to the United States. Industrious and determined to succeed, the two brothers started their own networking technology company and ten years later found themselves at the top of their industry. Ready to return to their roots, it was now time for their winemaking dream to prevail.
DESTINY Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou set forth across the globe to find an unrivaled terroir for producing Cabernet Sauvignon - a quest that led them to a place of foretold greatness. The moment the Daou brothers first set eyes on this staggering mountain overlooking the Adelaida District in Paso Robles, they recognized it as the place they imagined all along. It was precisely here, in the early 1970s, that renowned winemaking authority AndrÊ Tchelistcheff spoke of great things to come, as he saw immense potential in the mountain’s calcareous clay soils, soaring elevation and phenomenal climate. Then known as Hoffman Mountain Ranch, this property produced notable wines for many years and was widely considered the birthplace of modern winemaking in Paso Robles.
PHILOSOPHY “If we are to extract DAOU Mountain’s promise, we must become its humble shepherds. Nothing can be left unconsidered in this responsibility. The forces of art, physics, technology and philosophy are all in play. Only then can we fully express this place in the bottle, so that others may take utmost pleasure in it.”
- GEORGES DAOU, PROPRIETOR
We will stop at nothing less than producing the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon in steadfast service to DAOU Mountain and its incomparable terroir. We view our quest as a sacred trust, one that extends to all who step foot on the mountain, and to all who experience the luxuries of DAOU wines around the world.
TERROIR “We have challenged ourselves to produce Cabernet Sauvignon that will rival the greatest. There is no question that we have the terroir. Success will come through reverence for this land—the idea that we are not ‘making’ something from it, but rather mirroring all that is already there.”
- DANIEL DAOU, PROPRIETOR & WINEMAKER
DAOU Mountain stands alone at an elevation of 2,200 feet, rising from the heart of the Adelaida District in the rugged coastal range west of Paso Robles. The steep slopes here are at angles reaching 60 degrees, with uniform exposure to the elements across the estate. It is a terroir of power, purity and symmetry, with every natural asset necessary to pursue the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon—including calcareous clay soils that emulates Bordeaux’s Right Bank and a climate that closely identifies with St. Helena’s.
“This terroir is naturally inclined to produce wines of extraordinary staying power. We spare no amount of imagination or technology in harnessing that power to make wines of dimension and elegance.” — DA N I EL J. DAO U, Winemaker / Proprietor
WINEMAKING Winemaker Daniel Daou is relentless in his pursuit of fruit purity, implementing an array of proprietary techniques and technologies to create one of the world’s most innovative winemaking programs. All fruit from DAOU Mountain is hand picked, then sorted by cutting-edge optical technology. The wines are made from 100 percent free-run juice that is fermented with native yeasts cultivated from the estate. Each fermentation is customized in accordance with intensive phenolic analysis, ultimately ensuring an exquisite mouthfeel in each wine. With these and other proprietary techniques, Daniel is able to make ageworthy wines that consistently exhibit depth, balance and first growth elegance.
BARRIQUES All DAOU Estate wines are aged in custom French oak barrels selected from France’s finest cooperages. For his flagship wines, Winemaker Daniel Daou oversees the coopering of his own proprietary barrels made from a fine-grain pink oak known as bois rosé. This rare wood is aged in the elements for up to five years, and is prized for imparting an array of complex yet subtle flavors. The bois rosé barrels are also finished with Daniel’s custom toasting, which reduces char in order to bring nuance and length to the wine’s finish.
“We view our quest as a sacred trust, one that extends to all who step foot on the mountain, and to all who experience the luxuries of DAOU wines around the world.” — G E O RG ES J. DAO U, Proprietor
EXPERIENCE More than just a winery, our tasting room is dedicated to enriching lives and creating experiences beyond the glass. Upon your arrival to DAOU, you enter a sentimental journey that heightens all senses. Our passionate team strives to create perfect moments for you to enjoy while reveling in our infinite views, culinary delights and exquisite DAOU wines. We look forward to welcoming you to DAOU.
VISIT Experience the exquisite wines of DAOU Vineyards & Winery at our mountaintop estate. Here, you will share in the Daou family’s tradition of graciousness, enveloped in views of immaculate vineyards and breathtaking horizons. To make reservations for a wine tasting flight, private tasting experience, or a wine and food pairing, please contact our Guest Relations Team at visit@daouvineyards. com, 805.226.5460 ext.505, or visit our website at daouvineyards.com. We look forward to our time together.
“Our promise is to be the two best shepherds you have ever met, in both wine and fellowship.”
— GEORGES J. DAOU, Proprietor
— DANIEL J. DAOU, Winemaker / Proprietor