Daniel Daou of DAOU Family Estates
Tell us about the sustainable and eco-friendly practices at the vineyard: Daniel and brother Georges Daou believe they are shepherds of this remarkable terroir for future generations and want to ensure that not only our vineyards are farmed organically, but that our community and company are also vibrant and secure.
With a certification from SIP, we ensure that our vineyards are farmed with extreme care and our people are at the center of all that we do. We believe in a truly integrative approach to farming and use practices that allow for the environment to be balanced, such as cover crops, owl boxes and bug hotels. We also seed a native wildflower blend around our reservoir to attract bees and provide them with an ample supply of pollen. Helping the bee population is one of the single most important things we can do as farmers.
Additionally, the calcareous clay soils in our vineyards support dry farming, which coupled with our first-of-its-kind AI system developed by Daniel and our vineyard team, allows for maximum water conservation while maintaining the highest quality grapes.
Tell us about the varietals you make: Daniel and Georges came to Paso Robles with the vision to create world-class Bordeaux varietals from the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. Our Estate vineyards are planted with the highest quality clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and a small block of Chardonnay. The vineyards rise between 1,800 and 2,200 feet in elevation in the hills of the Adelaida District on the West side of the Paso Robles AVA. With steep mountain slopes of up to 56 percent, our vineyards rise dramatically above the Coastal Range with breathtaking views. Our terroir is founded on calcareous clay with a limestone subsoil, and is cooled by the Pacific Ocean, 14 miles away with gentle breezes that flow over the Templeton Gap. Warm, temperate days and cool nights allow for even ripening and vine balance every year.
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