Winemaking
A fusion of tradition and innovation, our wines reflect the character and craft of the visionaries behind their creation.
A Fresh Take on Tradition
The founding of our winery was inspired by Darioush Khaledi’s lifelong love for the wines of Bordeaux. Tempted to settle in the famed Right Bank, Darioush opted instead to put down roots in California, where he found greater freedom as a winemaker. Echoing this bold spirit, our winemaking approach is a celebration of new-world freedom, old-world finesse, and timeless flare.
Vice President of Winemaking Hope Goldie is carrying on the legacy built by Darioush and her predecessor Steve Devitt with an evolved approach, creating wines that showcase freshness, focus, and composure. Masters of their craft, Hope and her team maintain a student’s mindset—a winemaking philosophy that centers on continuous improvement and a joy of experimentation. By capitalizing on soil-driven, site-specific opportunities, our winemaker brings out the best in our fruit, ensuring each wine yields a symphony for the senses.
Meet Hope
Darioush Estate
The Darioush Estate is home to both the winery and our 25-acre estate vineyard. This celebrated property right at the southern tip of the Silverado trail, where a cooler climate prevails, features several vineyard blocks with vine ages of over 20 years, the most reputable of which is our Apadana block. Wines from this site, like our crown jewel Darius II, reflect the vineyard’s maturity in profiles that are distinctly plush and seamless. This estate is Certified Bee Friendly, Fish Friendly Farming, and is organically farmed (seeking certification).
varietiesCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
soilPrimarily Forward loam with lesser areas of Hambright
elevation80 ft.
vine age3–23 years
Sage Vineyard
Perched atop Mount Veeder, our 22-acre Sage Vineyard benefits from the rugged mountain terrain of this Napa Valley sub-appellation. The steep hillside provides plantings with increased direct sunlight and improved drainage, while the volcanic soil, low in organic matter, produces berries with high fruit tone and bright acidity. Wines resulting from this site exhibit concentrated, complex character, with a fair measure of tannin to support long-term aging. This site is organically farmed (seeking certification) with minimal irrigation, and is Certified Bee Friendly.
varietiesCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
soilBoomer loam with some gravelly Forward loam
elevation1,850 to 2,080 ft.
vine age15 years
Darioush is dedicated to agricultural practices that benefit both our wines and the environment at large. We are proudly certified in Fish Friendly Farming and Bee Friendly Farming and are actively pursuing CCOF Organic certification.
A Labor of Love
Inspired by collaboration and empowered by a culture of advocacy, the expert members of our tight-knit winemaking team serve as the backbone of our operation, ensuring each of our wines is of the highest quality.