[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING DARIOUSH AND SHAHPAR KHALEDI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 3, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi for their leadership in raising the role 
of arts and culture in California's Napa Valley. Mr. and Ms. Khaledi 
have made many contributions to our community, particularly through 
their steadfast commitment to the arts.
  Mr. Khaledi was born and raised in Iran, where his fascination with 
wine began at an early age, due to his father's winemaking and the 
cultural history of winemaking of Shiraz, Iran. After building what was 
at one point the largest family-owned grocery business in California, 
Mr. and Ms. Khaledi founded Darioush Winery in 1997. Mr. Khaledi 
considers Darioush Winery to be the realization of his American Dream. 
His goal was to produce wines that celebrate both individualism and 
craftsmanship. For Ms. Khaledi it was essential that clients and guests 
be treated as family, which she considers to be more than a cultural 
tradition, but a way of life. Her welcoming philosophy has defined the 
Darioush experience and is derived from Tarof, the Persian art of 
social etiquette--in essence how to make your guests feel more at home 
``than home itself.''
  In addition to running their world-class winery, Mr. and Ms. Khaledi 
are active patrons of the arts and engaged community members. Mr. 
Khaledi is the Founding Chair on the Board of Directors for Festival 
Napa Valley, an organization that puts on an annual performing arts 
festival and also offers year-round programming. Mr. Khaledi is also a 
Board Member for organizations including Napa Valley Vintners, the Los 
Angeles Philharmonic, Food Marketing Institute, Unified Grocers and the 
St. Helena Hospital Foundation.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. and Ms. Khaledi are the kind of community members we 
should all strive to emulate. Their dedication to the arts in the Napa 
Valley has been crucial for the growth of our arts community. It is 
therefore fitting and proper that we honor Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi 
here today.

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