DAOU Vineyards and Winery, in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles Wine Country, is located at 2,200 feet. From their tasting patio, you will not find a better view. It has perhaps the most scenic viewpoint in Paso. Our Paso Robles Wine adventure was at the time of that late summer glow, just before summer's end. We (Ann, Marion, Luisa, Emanuel, Norma, John and I) did on a wine tasting over lunch at Daou. Daou Mountain wowed us with its views, hospitality, and of course its wine.
Wine Tasting and Lunch at Daou Vineyard
Wine enthusiasts head to Dauo Mountain at 2777 Hidden Mountain Road, Paso Robles for one of the best views in town. We came because this mountaintop estate gets high marks for hospitality and views.
Daou Mountain began as Hoffman Mountain Ranch when in 1961, Dr. Stanley Hoffman, a Beverly Hills cardiologist, moved his family to Paso Robles to follow his dream of becoming a winemaker. The property would become known for producing notable wines, and the birthplace of Paso Robles modern winemaking. Hoffman hired André Tchelistcheff as a consultant, and together, they developed the Hoffman Mountain Ranch vineyard and winery, the first gravity-flow winery in America and first commercial-scale winery in Paso Robles. After the Daou brothers, Georges and Daniel, acquired the original Hoffman Mountain Ranch property, they restored the original winery preserving a vital part of Paso Robles history. Today it is one of the must visit wineries in Paso Robles.
Welcome to Daou Montain © Spaswinefood
Our lunch began with appetizers and wines.
Daou Vineyards, Reserve Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap Sonoma, 2024
This wine was produced for one vintage only, 2022. The Three Sisters Limited Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is available exclusively only at DAOU Mountain. Fortunately for us, it was featured in the Discover DAOU Flight this September and October. Given we were there in September we got to taste it. Hence we were in the right place at the right time.
Paso Robles Wine Country
Daou Vineyards is located in Adelaida District of Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA), San Luis Obispo County, California's third largest wine region. Maybe you have heard that Paso Robles Wine Country has 11 Viticultural Areas. When you say that Paso Robles Wine Country has 11 Viticultural Areas (sub-appellations) what does that mean? First, Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA) was established in 1983. Since the wine region was established it has grown significantly. Paso Robles, home to so much diversity in wine, is now a large and very diverse wine region, with over 200 wineries in the appellation. Over the years I have been introduced to the amazing diversity of Paso Robles 11 sub-appellations that showcase the uniqueness within Paso Robles Wine Country. Daou has its own unique niche. Moreover, if you are interested in checking out some of Paso Robles's greener wineries, then put Daou at 2777 Hidden Mountain Road, Paso Robles on your list. The winery offers a number of wine tasting options. You can also take a tour of the winery to learn more about 's wine production.
If you are looking for great views, delicious wines and food, and hospitality then Dao Vineyards is a must. Daou life is indeed beautiful! It is hard to beat summer's end in Paso Robles with so many wonderful wineries and a vibrant culinary scene. We were treated so well at the Paso Robles wineries and restaurants we visited. I invite you to join me in my travels in Paso Robles, California, and elsewhere in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook.
Sharon
Summer's End at Daou Mountain, September 2026
Paso Robles, California
NOTES from Earlier Visit: I still remember a mid-summer evening 2014 with the Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective at Daou Vineyards was an event filled with so many good wines. Even though our #WBC14 Pre-conference wine blogger tour arrived, as the sun was setting, the view from Daou Mountain (as the locals affectionately call it) was stunning. Daou, once part of the historic Hoffman Mountain Ranch Vineyard, was acquired by Daniel and Georges Daou in 2007. They were convinced the terroir met the criteria for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varietals that would compete with the top appellations in the world. Finding the right terroir in such a setting, with world class views, undoubtedly makes it a winner. It was in this beautiful setting that we were introduced to wines from the Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective.
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| Late Evening View from Daou Winery © Spaswinefood |
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| Twilight at Daou Winery © Spaswinefood |
In fact as we entered the Daou's Tasting Room we were welcomed with some wines from the CAB Collective.
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| Daou Tasting Room © Spaswinefood |
The first two wines included:
1. Justin Paso Robles Rose 2013, and
2. Daou Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles Seventeen Forty Reserve 2011.
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| Tasting Justin Winery, Paso Robles Rose 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| A Closer Look at Justin's Paso Robles Rose 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Daou Reserve, Paso Robles Seventeen Forty 2011 © Spaswinefood |
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| Wine Tasting at Daou Winery © Spaswinefood |
To go along with the above wines there were tasty appetizers as well.
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| Cucumber Appetizers, Daou Winery © Spaswinefood |
After appetizers and a sample of the welcoming wines I tasted more wines from the Paso Robles CAB Collective (PRCC) wineries. Founded in 2012 the PRCC mission is to (1) provide education on the quality of Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals, and (2) promote and globally market Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux (BDX) varietals. The event's focus on wineries engaged in the production Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals provided me with a value lens for tasting Paso wines.
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| Paso Robles CAB Collective © Spaswinefood |
Tasting Paso Robles CAB Collective Wines
Over the course of the next 2-3 hours I was able to do a representative sampling from the participating wineries.
1. Justin Winery founded in 1981 with a primary goal of creating world-class Bordeaux style blends. Based wine critics' reviews it has achieved its goal. The first wine from Justin's was a Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.
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| Justin Winery, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 © Spaswinefood |
The second Justin Winery wine was a Paso Robles Isosceles 2011 (a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc).
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| Justin Winery, Paso Robles Isosceles 2011 © Spaswinefood |
Justin Winery is well known for their Isosceles wines that they have been producing since 1987. Many vintages of this Bordeaux style blend has received great reviews from wine critics.
2. Le Vigne Winery's story began in 1982 with grape growing starting. Soon the high quality of grapes produced in their vineyard lead to the Filippini family to start making wine in 1989. They established a state of the art winery in 1995. Vigne, Italian for vineyard, sounds like an appropriate name for a winery that had its origins, as a vineyard. Vigne's goal is to make wines that display the characteristics of the vineyard and the vintage.
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| La Vigne Winery © Spaswinefood |
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| La Vigne Winery & Parish Family Winery © Spaswinefood |
The first Le Vigne Winery wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon 2011.
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| Le Vigne Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 © Spaswinefood |
The second Le Vigne Winery wine was a Nikiari 2011.
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| Le Vigne Winery, Nikiari 2011© Spaswinefood |
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| Parish Family Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
3. Parish Family Vineyard is a boutique winery that began wine production in 2004, opened a tasting room in 2011. However, 70 years ago David Parish's grandfather was unable to achieve his dream to establish a commercial winery because of Prohibition and the Great Depression. Today the Parish family have been able to realized that dream. The first Parish Family Vineyard wine that I tasted was a Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009.
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| Parish Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009 © Spaswinefood |
The second wine was a Parish Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010.
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| Parish Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010 © Spaswinefood |
4. Red Soles Winery is a small, family owned winery. Owners, Randy and Cheryl Phillips have been not only successful in growing grapes for their own winery but for other large wineries in the area. Their wine story began with them crushing their first barrel of wine with their own feet; hence the name Red Soles. This passion for wine making still continues. In fact you will find them happily pouring wines in their tasting room. I was most fortunate to have Randy pour the Red Soles wines I tasted.
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| Red Soles Winery © Spaswinefood |
The Red Soles Winery, Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 was the first wine I tasted.
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| Red Soles Winery, Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 © Spaswinefood |
The Red Soles Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011 was the second wine I tasted.
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| Red Soles Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011 © Spaswinefood |
My next tastings were from Vina Robles.
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| Vina Robles © Spaswinefood |
5. Vina Robles was founded in 1997 by Han Nef (proprietor) and Hans R. Michel (managing partner). They brought their Swiss heritage to Paso Robles wine making. Vina Robles wines capture the uniqueness of their estate vineyards while bridging the best of the Old world and New world wine styles. The first Vina Robles wine that I tasted was a Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2011.
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| Vina Robles, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 © Spaswinefood |
The second Vina Robles wine that I tasted was a Paso Robles Estate Suendero 2010.
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| Vina Robles, Paso Robles Estate Suendero 2010 © Spaswinefood |
6. Villa San-Juliette Vineyard & Winery is a beautiful 168-acre SIP Certified vineyard and winery. Located in the hills of San Miguel it is the perfect setting to enjoy their award winning wines and 180 degree views of Paso Robles Wine Country.
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| Villa San-Juliette Vineyard & Winery © Spaswinefood |
From Villa San-Juliette I tasted four wines. The first wine was a Villa San-Juliette, Petit Verdot Reserve 2011.
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| Villa San-Juliette, Petit Verdot Reserve 2011 © Spaswinefood |
The second wine was a Villa San-Juliette, Cabernet Sauvigon Reserve 2010.
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| Villa San-Juliette, Cabernet Sauvigon Reserve 2010 |
The third wine was a Villa San-Juliette, Cabernet Franc Reserve 2010.
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| Villa San-Juliette, Cabernet Franc Reserve 2010 © Spaswinefood |
This time there was a fourth wine, a Villa San-Juliette Romantique Reserve 2010.
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| Villa San-Juliette, Romantique Reserve 2010 © Spaswinefood |
The wines that I tasted that evening were a great introduction to Paso Robles BDX varieties. Above all meeting the representatives from our host wineries was a great introduction to Paso Robles Wine Country. It was indeed a delightful evening on Daou Mountain.
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| Our Villa San-Juliette & Vina Robles Host © Spaswinefood |
A buffet dinner was also available during our visit.
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View from Daou at Sunset © Spaswinefood |
As we left Daou Mountain that evening, I left with special memories of that beautiful place and the awesome Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective wines.
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| Sunset at Daou Mountain © Spaswinefood |
Needless to say, with so many CAB Collective wonderful wines to taste, you can see why Paso Robles Wine Country is a wine taster's delight. California's third largest and fastest growing wine region, with over 200 wineries. Paso Robles Wine Country is a good source for further information on Paso Robles wineries. The California Winery Advisor is a great source for overall information on California wineries and Paso Robles in particular. I invite you to join me in my travels in Paso Robles in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
