Darioush
Napa Valley, California
Darioush is the culmination of a lifetime of passion and aspiration to share the art, architecture, wine craftsmanship and culture of Darioush Khaledi and his wife, Shahpar Khaledi. Born in the mountains of Northern Iran, Darioush was raised in the remnants of Persian culture, where wine and culture were heavily embedded into society, throughout history, winemaking accompanied the very concept of hospitality, art, poetry and culture for millennia to come. Darioush was instilled with these historic ideals at an early age, and became a lifelong collector of old world wines infused with tradition but energized by modern technique. These two pillars remained key to Darioush as he immigrated to the Napa Valley as an entrepreneur determined to materialize his dream of sharing his journey through his love of wine.
In the 1990s, Darioush employed winemaker Steve Devitt, who made the unorthodox choice to commit to the cooler, overlooked Southern Napa Valley. Darioush and Steve recognized the unique microclimates in the southern valley, whether it be the cooler, maritime climates on the Valley floor or high atop Mount Veeder. The team proceeded to replant the vineyard in order to seize the full potential of the vineyards. Additionally, through commiting to a Bordeaux-style of winemaking, the blended style Darioush long admired, the goal of creating wines for their potential to truly express character of the wine and people behind them was born. True to Darioush’s inspiration the wines are symbolic, operating at the crossroads between honoring ancient tradition and modern influences.
Wines
Signature Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley
Sourced exclusively from Darioush's estate vineyards perched atop Mount Veeder and Atlas Peak, the unique rocky soils and cool, marine-influenced climate provide the perfect climate for the development of Cabernet Franc's inherently earthbound, spice and black fruit flavors. Benefiting from exceptional sun exposure, the reustling wine is distinctly of Mount Veeder origins: a pure, singular expression of a classic Bordeaux variety.
Signature Viognier
Oak Knoll
A rarity in the Napa Valley, the Darioush Signature Viognier is fragrant, alluring an exotic. Sourced from the cooler vineyards of Oak Knoll where early morning fog and late afternoon breezes allow for slow, complete ripening of the signature bright and vibrant character full of effusive floral aromatics and a core of juicy stone fruit.
Signature Merlot
Napa Valley
Sourced from estate vineyards with unique microclimates and soils throughout Napa Valley, including Oak Knoll and Mount Veeder, the Signature Merlot displays the naturally plush characteristics of the grape, yet retains the focus and aromatic complexity that is the hallmark of Darioush style.
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
Seamless, with an ideal balance of fruit, structure and composure, the Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is the result of decades of meticulous vineyard sourcing and management in the cooler sites of Southern Napa Valley. Sourced primarily from the estate vineyards atop Mount Veeder and Coombsville, these vineyards have reached maturity and produce wines of distinct concentration, complexity and signature freshness to be expected from Darioush.
Darius II Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
Each year, after fermentation of the signature vineyards, winemaker Hope Goldie selects the best barrels of the vintage to be blended into the Crown Jewel of the Darioush estate. Bottling after bottling, the wine captures its vintage's complexity, composure and refinement in an irresistible manner that is both expressive in its youth, yet undoubtedly reveals further detail and elegance for the patient over the following decade or two. Paying homage to the exceptional quality that distinguished each vintage from the last, each vintage label bears a unique and rich example of historical Persian art.
Signature Chardonnay
Napa Valley
Sourced from the Darioush Estate valleys throughout the Napa Valley, all with unique, cooler Southern Napa Valley Climates, the Signature Chardonnay is progrssive in its integration of precision, richness and complexity. The wine displays signature varietal characteristics that are matched with the inherent freshness and vibrancy.
People
Hope Goldie
"Hope Goldie is Darioush's master of a thousand decisions. Hope oversees all wine production operations; she carries exceptional attention to details in the vineyard into the cellar, laboratory and crush pad. Her work is in the fine tuning – lot by lot, she applies her vast knowledge of fermentation science, sensory chemistry, viticulture and oenology.
Hope's dream, of becoming a 6th generation winemaker formed in childhood, working alongside her father in Washington making Riesling. As her lead grad student, the California Department of Food & Agriculture sponsored Hope’s quantitative microbiology thesis work on Botrytis cineria. Her subsequent responsibilities as a Brewer at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and in cellar operations and oenology at Opus One and other fine estates throughout Napa Valley strengthened her desire to make exceptional, high-end Bordeaux blends. "
Darioush Khaledi
In childhood, Darioush Khaledi was instilled with the winemaking craft of his father, inspired by wine culture in the literary city of Shiraz - in modern day Iran - and the ancient city of Persepolis. He became a lifelong collector, seeking out old world wines rich with tradition and energized by modern technique. Aspiring to the ideals of the American dream, Darioush immigrated to America to seek out opportunities others overlooked. He was an entrepreneur determined to realize his dream, yet always eager to share his journey through his love of rich wine borne heritage. In 1997, Darioush and his wife Shahpar founded Darioush and launched a lifelong aspiration to share the art, architecture, wine, craftsmanship and culture that inspired their journey.
