Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Dan O’Brien honed his wine knowledge behind the bar and as a sommelier in Boston before being recruited to build the wine cellar for the Michelin-starred Cavallo Point in Marin, California. While living in California, Dan's passion for wine grew, and he began working in the production side of the business, working harvests at L'Aventure in Paso Robles and Larkmead in Napa, eventually becoming a consultant for new wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Using his knowledge, experience and connections, Dan founded his own label, Gail Wines in 2013 with the goal of highlighting both classic and off-the-beaten-path varieties across the Sonoma Valley. He works with organically farmed fruit from Bennett Valley, Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Mountain. All wines are fermented with native yeasts and aged sur-lie between 8 and 24 months depending on the varietal, vineyard and vintage. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Dan makes wines from traditional grapes like Chardonnay and Merlot as well as lesser utilized varietals like Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc and Barbera.

Doris is Gail Wines' sister label, a nod to the European table wines Dan's great aunt Doris would serve to friends and family while hosting traditional Italian American feasts in her backyard. The fruit was sourced from a single vineyard in the Warm Springs region of Sonoma Valley at the base of the Sonoma Mountain. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel then aged for 20 months, sur-lie, in neutral oak barrels and bottled unfiltered. Deep purple in color with incredibly expressive aromas of violet, cassis, eucalyptus and cocoa. The palate is sleek and well-defined with power and depth that is impeccably balanced by graceful tannins and zip-line acidity. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and blueberries explode on the palate to complement the floral and herbal nuances from the nose. The finish is long, elegant and refreshing with a mineral drive that adds to the wine's complexity. This is my style of California Cabernet, perfect to enjoy with a grilled cheeseburger!