Gardens of Darioush Winery, Napa Valley

Darioush Winery, Napa Valley, California - Shahpar Khaledi selected antique French Tunisian oil jars over 100 years old to nestle among the plantings. Their assertive forms enhance the garden design at the front of the winery.

Darioush Winery Architects: Nozari & Nojari, Santa Monica

Landscape Design: Sabrina Tanner of Proscape, Napa

Proprietors: Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi

Cast stone seating at the entryway, where visitors can take in the scenery before going forward to the visitor center to taste the Bordeaux-style wines. The estate celebrates the Khaledis' Persian heritage in the ornate symmetry of the building's architecture, referencing Persepolis, and in myraid artistic details.

The organically farmed Darioush gardens use natural fertilizers made from sea kelp. Plants are selected for their ability to withstand the Napa Valley’s extreme temperature variations, with winter lows that reach 20 degrees to summer highs of 110 degrees. Looking across the winery building facade, you ‘ll see plants arranged to complement the building’s honey-colored imported Persian Straw Travertine. Apricot, orange and cinnabar with the a bit of blue here and there are prominent colors in a scheme composed of roses, succulents, lambs ears, Jerusalem sage, and Yucca specimens.

At the lawn's edge roses cosort with daylilies, flowering plums, bearberries, and cannas, native of Persia.

Tall, narrow maples and evergreen Thuja were planted to echo the archictectural columns. Dwarf Magnolia's stand sentry at the front lawn. Looking toward the vineyards, a color palette of purple and burgundy catches the eye.

Inside the visitor center, an eye-catching cascade takes center stage near the wine tasting area. The building's interior features rich detailing, in glazed tiles and polished stone, ceramics and floral color.

Along the driveway wind and heat resistant plants include lavender, roses, manzanita and society garlic. Alongside the winery entrance, pomegranates also native to Persia produce fruit that ripens in October. Tall, narrow maples and evergreen Thuja were chosen to echo the archictectural columns.

Surrounding the Darioush amphitheatre - Washingtonia robusta - Palms play off Pampas Grass.

George Altamura, the winery’s orignal owner planted olive trees on the property. Darioush now produces an Extra Virgin Olive Oil made from a blend of Frantoio, Leccino & Pendolino olives.

Click to see more... Winery Garden Destinations on Alice's Garden Travel Buzz