Darioush Khaledi

Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors of Festival Napa Valley, Darioush Khaledi is a man dedicated to wine and the ideals of the American dream – a deeply rooted belief in individualism and opportunity. Born and raised in Iran, trained as a civil engineer, and a lifelong entrepreneur, his fascination with wine was instilled at an early age by his father’s winemaking efforts and by an interest in the cultural history of winemaking in Shiraz.

Darioush emigrated to the United States seeking opportunity, reinventing his career by building what became at one point the largest family-owned grocery business in Southern California. Together with his wife Shahpar, he founded Darioush Winery in 1997.

Darioush was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by USA Today in 1995 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Food Marketing Institute and Unified Grocers and is a past Chairman of the California Grocers Association. Actively involved in supporting programs in both communities that he resides, Darioush currently serves on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Napa Valley Vintners, and OLE Health.

Darioush has been centrally involved with Festival Napa Valley since its founding in 2006. He currently serves on the Executive Committee, Governance Committee, and as Chairman of the Nominating Committee.