DAOU Vineyards

Awards & Recognition

Regular mid- to high-90s point scores for core Cabernet lines
Wine Enthusiast Top 10 Cabernet list (2019); praised by Robb Report and Jeb Dunnuck
USA Today’s “Best Winery Tasting Room” 2023
2023 “Deal of the Year” following its high-profile acquisition

About DAOU Vineyards

DAOU Vineyards, perched at 2,200 ft atop DAOU Mountain in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, California, is redefining New World Bordeaux blends. Founded in 2007 by Lebanese-born brothers Georges and Daniel Daou, the estate thrives on calcareous clay soils first hailed by famed enologist André Tchelistcheff as “a jewel of ecological elements”.

Their multi-regional philosophy and Mediterranean-influenced terroir yield opulently structured Cabernets, Chardonnays, Syrahs, and rosés that compete with Napa’s finest. After selling their tech company, the brothers committed to crafting world-class wines deeply rooted in family legacy—producing several tiered portfolios from flagship Bordeaux-style Reserve and Patrimony wines to vibrant Discovery and Estate tiers.

In 2023, Treasury Wine Estates acquired DAOU in a landmark $900 million deal, underscoring the brand’s global prestige.

History

Tech to Terroir (2007–2013)

Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou leveraged proceeds from their tech business to acquire DAOU Mountain—land previously farmed by Dr. Stanley Hoffman—and founded DAOU Vineyards in 2007. The first vintage of their flagship Soul of a Lion Cabernet premiered in 2013, honoring their father’s legacy

Terroir & Expansion (2014–2022)

They restored the historic redwood winery and expanded hospitality at the mountain and downtown Paso Robles, blending winemaking with local heritage. DAOU quickly became known for its elevated tasting experiences, winning USA Today’s “Best Winery Tasting Room” in 2023

Global Acquisition (2023–Present)

The 2023 sale to Treasury Wine Estates for $900 million marks one of the most significant luxury wine transactions in U.S. history. DAOU continues under founder guidance, balancing quality with international reach.

Wine Styles

Reserve & Bordeaux-Style Reds

DAOU’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Soul of a Lion express traditional French structure with Paso’s ripe fruit, earning consistent mid‑90s scores from Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and Wine Advocate

Patrimony

Launched in 2013, Patrimony is their top-tier, single-estate Bordeaux-style red noted for depth and rare phenolic intensity ($300+ price point)

Estate & Discovery Lines

These include Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and bright, Provençal-style rosé (Discovery Rosé), offering approachable, regionally expressive wines

Wine Portfolio

Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon

Estate Flagship Honoring Family Legacy

Blend:

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Awards & Recognition:

95+ scores from critics

Cornerstone of two-tier hierarchy

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Paso Robles Bordeaux-style Reference

Blend:

Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend

Awards & Recognition:

High-90s scores regularly; optically-sorted fruit, French oak

Patrimony

Ultra-Premium Single-Estate Red

Blend:

Bordeaux-style estate blend

Awards & Recognition:

Luxury $300+ release; noted depth and structure

Discovery Rosé

Bright Provence-Style Aperitif

Blend:

Grenache/Cab/Syrah style rosé

Awards & Recognition:

Praised as playful & complex

Did You Know?

DAOU Vineyards is built on winery land with roots to Dr. Stanley Hoffman and André Tchelistcheff’s 1960s vision
Their tasting room sits at Paso’s highest elevation (2,200 ft), with Spanish colonial architecture and scenic barrel-room vistas
The Daou brothers, once injuries survivors in Lebanese war, grew their passion for wine in France before founding DAOU post-tech exit
DAOU remains run by its founders despite the 2023 acquisition, and continues deep engagement in Paso’s CAB Collective
Daniel Daou oversees native-yeast fermentations, optical grape sorting, and no-acid addition winemaking—ensuring terroir purity

Paso Robles’ Mountain-Born Cabernet Powerhouse

Quick Facts

Specialty Grapes

Red Varieties

White Varieties

Awards & Recognition

About DAOU Vineyards

History

Tech to Terroir (2007–2013)

Terroir & Expansion (2014–2022)

Global Acquisition (2023–Present)

Wine Styles

Reserve & Bordeaux-Style Reds

Patrimony

Estate & Discovery Lines

Wine Portfolio

Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Patrimony

Discovery Rosé

Did You Know?