EXCELLENCE IN A BOTTLE
Meet the brothers behind DAOU Family Estates
By Teresa Bitler
Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou dreamed of finding the perfect terroir to create world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Their dream came true when they discovered what would become known as DAOU Mountain in Paso Robles. Here, guests not only enjoy some of California’s most coveted wines, but also a hospitality experience without peer. AN IMPROBABLE JOURNEY The story of DAOU Family Estates begins long before the brothers found their way to Paso Robles. As boys growing up in Lebanon, Georges and Daniel Daou’s idyllic childhood was disrupted when an errant missile struck the family home at the advent of the Lebanese Civil War. The brothers both sustained serious injuries, and as the war escalated, the family was forced to flee to France. There, Georges and Daniel fell in love with the vineyards, the art of hospitality and saw how a bottle of wine could bring people together. They eventually moved to San Diego to study engineering. Then, in 1998, after a successful run in tech, it was finally time for their winemaking dream