DAOU Vineyards: Home of America’s No.1 Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles is emerging as California’s “next Napa.” Unlike Napa or Sonoma, located north of San Francisco, Paso Robles lies further south. The region was once best known for Rhône varietals such as Grenache and Syrah, and its reputation was built by the so-called “Rhone Rangers.” In recent years, however, Paso has gained increasing recognition for its Bordeaux varietals—especially Cabernet Sauvignon. At the forefront of this transformation is DAOU Vineyards.
DAOU Vineyards was founded in 2007 by Lebanese-born brothers Georges and Daniel Daou. It’s not every day you hear of Lebanese-born winemakers making waves in California, so here’s their story: Fleeing civil war, the Daou family immigrated to France when the brothers were young. Later, Georges and Daniel moved to the U.S. to pursue their education. After graduation, though their father hoped they would return with him to Lebanon, the brothers instead invested his financial support into launching a tech startup in California—one that became enormously successful. Despite their early business triumphs, they sold the company at a young age to pursue their true dream: founding a winery.
For the next eight years, the brothers explored wine regions around the globe, ultimately drawn to Paso Robles. Why? Daniel Daou, the winemaker, had been searching for calcareous clay soils, and a simple Google search revealed that Paso Robles possessed exactly that. Soon after, they purchased a mountain property for sale, naming it DAOU Mountain. That marked the beginning of DAOU Vineyards and, with it, a new era for Paso Robles wine.
In 2007, when DAOU was founded, Rhône grapes dominated the region—accounting for over 60% of plantings. Today, that number has flipped, and Cabernet Sauvignon makes up nearly 60% of plantings. This dramatic shift owes much to DAOU. Despite skepticism from peers, the Daou brothers planted Cabernet Sauvignon on their mountain estate and boldly declared: “Paso Robles is Cabernet country.” Daniel Daou, deeply involved in the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, began to persuade neighboring vintners. As DAOU’s Cabernet gained acclaim, others followed, planting more Cabernet vines throughout the region.
How did consumers respond? With critical praise suggesting DAOU’s wines could rival those from Napa, the winery quickly rose to national prominence. In fact, DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon recently became the top-selling Cabernet over $20 in the U.S. Recognizing the brand’s potential, global wine giant Treasury Wine Estates acquired DAOU Vineyards in November 2024 for $1 billion—a strategic move to strengthen their premium California portfolio.
In May of this year, Neb Lukic—who had been leading DAOU since 2019 and is now President of Luxury Sales & Marketing at Treasury Wine Estates—visited Korea. Over the course of two days, a series of tastings and dinners showcased DAOU’s full lineup, including both wines already available in Korea and those set to launch soon. While the flagship labels such as Soul of a Lion and Patrimony were predictably outstanding, the entire portfolio impressed.
The soon-to-be-released Sauvignon Blanc stood out with a unique style—free from the overripe notes sometimes found in California Sauvignon, and offering a character distinct from New Zealand versions. The core DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon, which earned the brand its No.1 title, proved to be an easy-drinking yet solid option, perfect for a casual barbecue. And the DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon—despite its relatively accessible price point in Korea—delivered a level of elegance usually reserved for far more expensive wines.
