the story
GAIL was founded in 2013 by Dan O’Brien. Dan’s journey into wine began in the restaurants of Providence, Rhode Island, a place where the food was salty, and the people were saltier. Growing up, the wine on his family’s table often had a handle or came from a box. To support himself through college, Dan balanced bartending with shucking oysters and stocking wine at local restaurants.
At just 22, Dan became a sommelier, a career he’s still recovering from. This path took him from Boston to San Francisco, where he built meaningful relationships throughout the industry. These connections ultimately drew him to Sonoma, where he began managing wineries in the neighboring Napa Valley. As he transitioned from buyer to seller, he found himself living in Sonoma, surrounded by its rich history and longing for the classic California wines he once served.
Today, with the support of his wife, Alison, and their reluctant vineyard dog, Alma, Dan makes wines in celebration of his mother. GAIL embraces the unpretentious charm of Sonoma Valley—a place she would have considered paradise.
“Seeing Sonoma Valley through the lens of these wines feels like a shock: Suddenly, the landscape is more vibrant, more intensely colorful...”
the wines
GAIL wines are sourced exclusively from organically-farmed vineyards in Sonoma Valley. The approach in the cellar is centered around minimal intervention. Fermentations are spontaneous, and the wines age sur-lie in large puncheons and neutral oak barrels, allowing them to build energy, aromatics, and texture without manipulation.
GAIL wines are the namesake, highlighting the vineyards, varietals, and subregions of Sonoma Valley. Production is limited and can vary from vintage to vintage. DORIS, on the other hand, is are table wines in tribute to Dan’s great Auntie Doris. Wines are released seasonally to subscribers of our mailing list. Everything sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
These wines reflect a life’s work. The mission is to create wines that are both special and accessible. It’s more than just a wine label—it’s a celebration of the simple, unpretentious charm of where we live, Sonoma Valley.
“An approach to winemaking that O’Brien seems to have settled into naturally as one might ease into a comfortable chair.”
