AO Vino History

Walking into the winery of AO Vino, one gets the feeling that it has always been here. Is it just the comfortable atmosphere of a giant barn filled with barrels of oak wine that give the sense of permanence? David Watson, too, might feel like he’s been here forever. He left behind a career as an internet developer and felt much more at home at the edge of the land, having the ability to see and style the fruits of his labors.

In 1982, the purchase of the property’s 25 acres began the evolution of what has been seen these days, with 75 acres growing eight different varieties of wine grapes. David has always been a deep-down farmer, taking care of the land to deliver the best it can. By ripping out existing prune trees and unhealthy vines and planting new vineyards, he began reworking the vinery. He did it on his own, tractor work, cellar work and one-person sales department for several years. He originally created just a few hundred cases of his favorites, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, marketing the bulk of the grapes to various wineries. Today, over 5,000 cases of 9 different varieties are produced by AO Vino.

AO Vino Process

Our vintners are running day-to-day winery operations. While David is typically found in the wine cellar, the primary role of Jennifer is to supervise the daily operations of each winery and tasting area. David is always available to advise staff and provide recommendations, however, and in fact to greet new and past customers.

The AO Vino craft style is the embodiment of their land-related philosophy. Take what you have and do with it the most beneficial thing you can do. Each wine is handmade in the winery, ranging from before the grapes are harvested. Our vintner Jennifer decides how the grapes from each vineyard will be vinified after being picked, how they will be crushed, what fermentation schemes they will endure (pumping, extended maceration, pressing) and, eventually, what proportion of French or American barrels, new or previous barrels to maximize the wine’s optimum flavors throughout the barrel-aging process.

The wines created at the AO Vino vineyard have positioned a star as an area that should not be missed on many maps. Rose Moscato, our signature wine, has become so well-liked that it regularly sells out before being bottled year after year. You’ll understand why after you’ve tasted the wines. Furthermore, the winery produces a Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and several other red blends.