Sage Vineyard at Sunrise with fog

Winemaking

A fusion of tradition and innovation, our wines reflect the character and craft of the visionaries behind their creation.

Workers harvesting grapes in early morning

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.

bird box

Land stewardship plays a central role in the Darioush winemaking philosophy, brand values, and family legacy. We are committed to owning our own vineyards and farming them ourselves. We place emphasis on finding land in unexpected corners of Napa Valley where the climate is cool, and we choose to grow classic French varieties born in the famed regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Rhône Valley. Our vineyards are farmed regenerative organically to promote soil health, biodiversity of ecosystems, and true expression of the earth through each wine. Each vineyard is farmed organically, and some are certified Regenerative. All sites are deemed Bee Friendly and Fish Friendly Farming to support flora and fauna, and maintain clean water.

vineyard
Entryway at Darioush winery
Napa Valley AVA

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 and regenerative certified.

varietiesCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
soilPrimarily Forward loam with lesser areas of Hambright
elevation80 ft.
vine age3–23 years
Mount Veeder AVA

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 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 age16 years
tractor navigating through narrow vineyard row on mount veeder

Today, Darioush's Winemaking Team builds on this great foundation with an evolved approach, creating wines that showcase freshness, focus, and composure. Inspired by teamwork and driven by a culture of advocacy, our close-knit winemaking team members are the backbone of our operation, ensuring every wine we produce is of the highest quality.

Production Team at the Estate

A Labor of Love

Masters of their craft, the Winemaking Team maintains 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.