the story
GAIL was founded in 2013 by Dan O’Brien. A Rhode Island native, Dan’s decade-long career as a sommelier has taken him from Boston to the San Francisco Bay Area. Building connections throughout his tenure in the wine industry, Dan relocated to Sonoma to begin a new career manage wineries in Napa Valley. However, living amidst Sonoma's rich history, Dan found himself yearning for the classic California wines he once served.
Today, with the support of his wife Alison and our reluctant vineyard dog Alma, Dan makes wines in celebration of his mother. From the simplicity of our label to the humble wines we produce, GAIL is deeply rooted in 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 small growers within the Sonoma Valley. Our approach in the cellar yields wines with pure varietal character. Fermentations are spontaneous, wines age in large puncheon and neutral oak barrels, developing aromatics and texture without movement or manipulation. Due to the scarcity of certain varietals, availability varies from vintage to vintage. Each bottle is numbered for release.
DORIS wines are more abundant. Named after Dan’s great Auntie DORIS, they are table wines to be opened amongst family and friends. Each release is announced seasonally to subscribers of our mailing list. Everything is sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
“An approach to winemaking that O’Brien seems to have settled into naturally as one might ease into a comfortable chair.”
the AVA
The Sonoma Valley AVA hides in plain sight. Located within greater Sonoma County, it sprawls between the valleys and hillsides of the Sonoma and Mayacamas Mountain ranges. Within its borders exist four distinct sub-appellations: Bennett Valley, Carneros, the Moon Mountain District, and Sonoma Mountain.
In 1987, the Sonoma County wine-growing map was gerrymandered in favor of the corporate wine industry. The boundaries were redrawn so neighboring regions would overlap half of Sonoma Valley, negatively impacting small growers and damaging the AVA’s reputation. Today, thanks to producers who champion the region, we can still enjoy true Sonoma Valley wines.
“O’Brien has a pedigree beyond his sommelier experience worthy of the wine he is producing.”
