On the warm dusty summer’s day in Paso Robles California, we
entered the palatial Daou Vineyards tasting room where a historic bell hangs
and as it sounds it seems to call to those to come and learn of a family that
truly respects Mother Nature’s bounty. We were met by Katherine Daou-Versochi,
brand manager and daughter of wine maker Daniel Daou.
Daou wines are a family
affair with Daniel Daou at the winemaking helm and brother Georges Daou as proprietor
and operations manager. “When you are here we talk a lot of history and tradition;
they are the two important pillars we stand on,” said Katherine. “We acquired
the property in 2007 and have 212 total acres, 160 are producing wine at this
time. We are always looking on was to innovate and improve our wine making
aiming at creating more of a lifestyle around the wines,” continued Katherine.
Gazing
over the golden hills of undulating rows of twisted vines, we sipped on glasses
of refreshing Daou Grenache Blanc as we settled in to learn more about the
history, terroir and philosophy behind Daou Vineyards.
When speaking of great Cabernets most people’s minds
immediately light up with the words Napa Valley but Paso Robles California
located halfway between LA and San Francisco is gaining international attention
as place of superb Bordeaux varietal distinction, especially in the world of
Cabernet Sauvignon.
The AVA has dramatic swings in climatic growing conditions due
to the Santa Lucia Mountains buffering effect on Pacific Ocean maritime
influence, creating a significant variation between evening and daytime
temperatures.
The warmer growing conditions along with the rocky, limestone or
calcareous clay soils found prominently on the western side of Paso Robles
provide the perfect planting and growing conditions for Bordeaux varietals.
The
most widely planted varietals in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel,
Merlot and Chardonnay. Paso Robles is now home to over 250 wineries with many of
which have national and international distinction. Daou Vineyards has taken the
art and science of wine making within a family legacy while establishing wines
of international excellence.
Located in western Paso Robles is Daou Mountain rising 2,200
feet in the Adelaida District. The clay soils, steep slopes and uniform
exposure promote excellent growing conditions that rival Bordeaux’s Right Bank.
Renowned winemaking authority Andre Tchelistcheff concluded that the terrior
was “a jewel of ecological elements”; alluding
to its tremendous potential in producing world acclaimed wines. Owners and
proprietors brothers Georges J. Daou and wine-maker Daniel Daou have combined
their efforts in cultivation wines of legacy and lasting tradition within this epitome’s
site. “This terroir is naturally inclined to produce wine of extraordinary
staying power. We spare no amount of imagination or technology in harnessing
that power to make wines of dimension and elegance,” affirmed winemaker Daniel.
Proprietor Georges Daou joined us for a few moments to reflect on
the arduous, yet rewarding journey that he and his immediate family have united
upon in creating wines of destiny. Fleeing from war-torn Lebanon in the early
70’s the family relocated to the south of France where the wine centric culture
would later determine their future destinies.
The Daou brothers went on to
pursue their education at University of California San Diego while following
the American dream by building profitable tech focused businesses in the United
States. Through stalwart determination, dedication, and adherence to family
honor, the brothers found great success from which they have parlayed their
savvy business sensibility into fashioning a wine destiny and lineage beyond
the transitory flight of immediate satisfaction.
“This is definitely an American dream, but I shy away from
that word because a dream has an end, this is not an end,” said proprietor Georges
Daou.
“I wrestle with what word this is, perhaps destiny. This has
grown and continues growing more than we ever imagined. We were semi-retired
and yet we wanted something to do that would bring us joy. We have always been
entrepreneurs and have always worked for ourselves. We created this with
happiness in mind; we wanted to create this to make really nice wines to share
with others. At first we had 300 people show up now we have over 4000 a year
without advertising except through social media. We are busy every day. I don’t
compare myself with anyone.
My brother is the wine maker, I am a life maker. I
am interested in making your life better and I don’t care if someone is bigger
or better. I am doing this for those around me, for my parents and those that
were before them. I do this for them; their generation went through a lot. It
is bigger than me and it will be here after I am gone. I don’t think people
will remember me but what matters now is this moment. Our goal is to create a
garden, a playground, a community where people will keep coming back. It’s a
complex juggernaut.
You have to go to the abyss of this industry but we know
where we are going and we want others to go with us on our journey. We make the
best wine and we place it where we think our customers live and then we watch.
It is not easy, because every bottle is handmade and hand sorted. I can tell
you we are very selective with the best grapes we can get; we select the wines
and the barrels. The $25 bottle is made with the same passion and love as the
$300 bottle,” imparted Georges. “What are you looking for? We have wines for
every occasion.”
The Daou brothers have planted their soul on the soil in
their production of these fine wines. The wines express the complexities of
flavors, of black currents and bramble fruits, subtle minerality along with
incredible structure. Jeb Dunnick of The Wine Advocate stated that the premier
2014 vintage was, “Easily the greatest Bordeaux blends I’ve tasted from Paso
Robles.”
Now with the addition of world renown Master Sommelier
Frederick L. Dame as Daou’s Global Ambassador, these exceptional wines are
moving forward into the global market. “I couldn’t think of a better final
chapter of my career than the opportunity to work alongside the Daou brothers,”
said Dame. “Their commitment to excellence sets them apart and it has been
demonstrated vintage after vintage with purity and ascent of their wines-from
Estate to Reserves. Daou’s ability to process the hand harvested grapes using
their unique optical sorting technology, combined with their specific
fermentation and aging process in custom French oak barrels combined with
in-depth phenolic analysis lends to superior Cabernet Sauvignon in the glass,
on the nose, and on the palate.”
Wine speaks for itself, it tells a story and that tale is
never ending but always evolving. By honoring Daou Mountain for its hearty
soils and precise atmospheric conditions, combined with astute business and
scientific acumen, the Daou family is fashioning Cabernets that will endure
with the test of time.
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