Carlos’ Food & Wine experiences DAOU’s Soul of a City: Miami and the unveiling of the 2023 Soul of a Lion at Casadonna

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

By Carlos Sarmiento:

(Photo: Lissette Alvarez)

There are wine events, and then there are evenings designed to leave a lasting impression.

On March 25, 2026, I had the pleasure of attending DAOU Soul of a City: Miami at Casadonna, a cocktail-style experience created to celebrate the debut of the 2023 DAOU Soul of a Lion. The evening brought together rare wines, elevated culinary pairings, immersive moments, and the unmistakable energy of one of Miami’s most glamorous waterfront destinations.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

According to DAOU, Soul of a City is a new experiential tour inspired by its flagship wine, with Miami serving as the spring 2026 launch city before the series continues to Los Angeles.

DAOU describes Soul of a Lion as the crown jewel of its portfolio and the pinnacle expression of DAOU Mountain. The 2023 vintage was unveiled as the centerpiece of the evening, reinforcing the winery’s commitment to producing collectible, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles’ Adelaida District.

The Set Up

Doors opened at 7:00 PM, and from the moment guests arrived, the tone was clear: this was not simply a tasting, but a fully curated lifestyle experience. Set against Biscayne Bay, Casadonna Miami offered the perfect backdrop for a DAOU evening centered on luxury, design, and hospitality.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

The event was styled as a walk-around tasting, allowing guests to move through the space at their own pace while discovering wines, culinary stations, and branded moments throughout the night. The DAOU team was on-site welcoming guests, and the atmosphere struck a polished balance between celebratory and intimate.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

(The Perfume & Cologne Bar - Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

(The Perfume & Cologne Bar - Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

As with DAOU’s strongest experiential events, the evening was about more than pouring excellent wine. It was about place, emotion, and story—bringing the spirit of DAOU Mountain into a major cultural capital and inviting guests to experience the brand through a distinctly Miami lens. DAOU says the Soul of a City series is meant to interpret the legacy of Soul of a Lion through curated city-specific experiences.

(DAOU Family Estates President Nebojsa Lukic & Carlos Sarmiento. Photo: Lissette Alvarez)

(Treasury Americas/Treasury Wine Estates Division Vice President - East, Jorge Monroy & Carlos Sarmiento. Photo: TWE)

​(Treasury Americas Director of Public Relations, Carrie Reed & Carlos Sarmiento. Photo: TWE)

Soul of a City

The concept behind the tour is a strong one.

Inspired by the release of the 2023 Soul of a Lion, DAOU created Soul of a City as a multi-city experiential series that translates the power, elegance, and ambition of DAOU Mountain into immersive events across America. Miami was the debut stop, with Los Angeles announced as the next city on April 23, 2026.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

That idea came through beautifully during the evening. Guests weren’t seated for a formal dinner; instead, they were encouraged to explore. That format created a sense of movement and discovery, and it worked especially well for a brand like DAOU, whose wines carry both immediate appeal and layered complexity.

(Photo: Casadonna)

The culinary offerings were designed to complement the wines rather than compete with them, and the pacing of the event allowed the featured pours to remain the stars. For Miami, that meant vibrant energy, sleek presentation, and an effortless flow between tasting, conversation, and atmosphere.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

The Wines

A major highlight of the evening was the opportunity to taste not only the newly unveiled 2023 Soul of a Lion, but also a selection of rare library wines. That combination gave guests a broader sense of DAOU’s range and aging potential, while reinforcing how Soul of a Lion sits at the summit of the house style.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

DAOU has built its reputation on Bordeaux varieties grown on its high-elevation Paso Robles estate, where limestone-rich soils, a Mediterranean climate, and cooling Pacific influences help shape wines of structure, polish, and depth. The estate spans 212 acres in the Adelaida District, and DAOU notes that its mountain terroir was once described by André Tchelistcheff as “a jewel of ecological elements.”

That philosophy of place is central to Soul of a Lion.

Named in tribute to founders Georges and Daniel Daou’s father, Soul of a Lion honors family, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. DAOU presents it not merely as a flagship Cabernet, but as the ultimate expression of its estate and vision.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

​(Live painting interpretation of Soul of a Lion. Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

The Grand Reveal: 2023 DAOU Soul of a Lion

The star of the night, without question, was the 2023 DAOU Soul of a Lion.

(Photo: DAOU Vineyards)

DAOU says the 2023 vintage was shaped by more than 30 inches of winter rainfall, a long and temperate growing season, and extended hang time, with only three days above 100°F before a warm, dry October harvest. Those conditions allowed for excellent phenolic maturity while preserving freshness and natural acidity. Senior Winemaker José Alberto Moreira dos Santos described the vintage as one that reflects both technical precision and artistry.

The wine itself is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. DAOU describes the 2023 as showing saturated dark crimson and violet hues, with aromas of blueberry, plum, cherry pie, and thyme, layered with toasted oak, smoked meat, coconut, and crème brûlée. On the palate, it unfolds with boysenberry, blackberry, and chocolate-covered cherry, framed by polished tannins and a long, commanding finish.

In the glass, the wine felt powerful yet composed—rich without excess, structured without hardness. This is the kind of Cabernet that commands attention immediately, but also clearly promises reward with time in bottle.

DAOU has positioned the 2023 Soul of a Lion for nationwide availability beginning in April 2026, with a suggested retail price of $150 per 750ml bottle. Members had earlier access through DAOU’s allocation and membership channels.

Why the 2023 Vintage Matters

Every flagship wine needs a strong vintage behind it, and DAOU appears to believe 2023 is one of those years.

The winery has emphasized the combination of freshness, maturity, and balance achieved by the season. That matters because Soul of a Lion is expected to deliver not only immediate luxury, but also aging potential and vineyard definition. DAOU consistently frames the wine as its most profound expression of excellence, and the 2023 release seems intended to reinforce that status.

For collectors and enthusiasts, the appeal is clear: this is not just another annual release, but a flagship bottling tied to a broader brand moment—one that now includes immersive city experiences built around the wine’s identity.

Final Thoughts

What made DAOU Soul of a City: Miami stand out was its sense of purpose.

This was more than a launch party. It was a statement about where DAOU is today as a luxury wine brand and how it wants people to encounter its most important bottling. The combination of rare pours, strong culinary pairings, waterfront glamour, and thoughtful staging made the event feel both polished and personal.

(Photo: Carlos Sarmiento)

Most importantly, it gave guests a meaningful first look at a wine DAOU clearly considers one of its defining releases.

The 2023 Soul of a Lion arrives with the depth, structure, and prestige expected of the label, while Soul of a City gives that release a memorable stage. If Miami was any indication, this tour has all the ingredients to become one of the more exciting wine lifestyle experiences of the season. The Miami event marked the series debut on March 25, 2026, with Los Angeles scheduled next.

Bravo, DAOU.

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For more information on DAOU’s events, wine releases, estate stories, and the inspiration behind its portfolio—including Soul of a City and the 2023 Soul of a Lion—please visit daouvineyards.com to explore the latest updates, experiences, and offerings from the estate.

Special thanks…

This incredible experience would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of our valued partners and contributors.

Thank you: Neb Lukic, Jorge Monroy, Carrie Reed, Katherine Dolecki Payton, the TWE team, the amazing staff at Casadonna and Lissette Alvarez. Cheers to you all! 🍷

Carlos’ Food & Wine & DAOU….

Visit and subscribe for free at Carlos-Food-Wine.com for expertly curated wine pairings, insider wine knowledge, and a collection of delectable recipes—featuring exceptional selections from DAOU Vineyards.

(Carlos Sarmiento on top of Daou Mountain, California. Photo: Anabella Sarmiento)