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Darioush Khaledi's Persepolis-Inspired Winery
Source: PARSA Community Foundation
Famous for its idyllic vineyards dotted with French chateaus and Italian villas, Napa Valley is the last place one would expect to see a replica of Persepolis, the ancient and dazzling palace of the Persian Empire. Yet Darioush Khaledi has built just that, bursting into the winemaking scene with Darioush Winery, a homage to the winemaking legacy of Persia.
Darioush Khaledi
Already a successful businessman and prominent community member, Khaledi’s newest venture is one of his many successes in living the American dream. A multifaceted individual, he has been shaped as much by his experiences as he has by his aspirations.
As a young boy growing up in Shiraz with a father who made wine as a hobby, Khaledi would watch and often sneak sips of wine from the barrel. Though his fascination with winemaking never waned, he went on to study civil engineering. After receiving his MA from Polytechnic University in Tehran in 1968, he entered a career in construction. In 1976, he immigrated to Los Angeles with his family. With only limited English skills and no prior experience working in the United States, Khaledi embarked on what has now become a familiar immigrant journey: he became an entrepreneur. He established Top Valu, one of the largest independent grocery store chains in Southern California. From that humble beginning, Khaledi is now Chairman and CEO of K.V. Mart Company, a chain of 23 markets with over $275 million in sales and 1,500 employees. A remarkable achievement in itself, but for Khaledi, he was just getting started.
Khaledi’s interest in winemaking continued to grow, and after several inspiring trips to Bordeaux, he founded Darioush Winery in 1997. The winery has been a resounding success, producing top rated wines and drawing large crowds who sip wine with the columns of Persepolis as a backdrop. Like many of the Napa Valley pioneers who built wineries as tributes to their homelands, he designed the winery after the awe-inspiring architecture of Persepolis, described by the great American architectural historian Arthur Pope as “a world of overwhelming splendor”. After six years of planning and construction, it opened in August 2004. Khaledi says that the design of the winery “allows us to shape how the world views Persians. We like to share a bit of our history and proud heritage with people who are unfamiliar with our culture. We try to create a warm atmosphere with great Persian hospitality so that our guests can enjoy themselves to the fullest. What better way to teach them about Iran than through good wine and a welcoming environment?”
The winery is home to cultural events and Persian dances, music and arts are often featured. “We love to show off our sophisticated and rich traditions to an eager audience. We celebrate big events like Mehregan and Norooz,” says Khaledi. “Our Persian visitors are so touched. They take my hand and they say, ‘Thank you for bringing our home here.’”
Beyond promoting ancient values of hospitality and kindness to neighbors, Khaledi has engaged in several hands-on community building activities over the years, his philanthropic endeavors spanning both Northern and Southern California. In 1982, he co-founded the Iranian-American Republican Party in an effort to encourage the nascent immigrant community to become involved in local politics. Khaledi served on the Board of Visitors of Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management and has also been instrumental in raising funds for computers and school equipment for underprivileged children in inner-city LA. Khaledi continues his service today by partnering with other winemakers to raise funds for Clinic Ole, a medical clinic for migrant farm workers without insurance, the only nonprofit of its kind in Napa County. Darioush Winery will also be generously donating wine to PARSA’s first annual fundraising gala this October.
From wine tasting in his youth to winemaking in his golden years, Khaledi has come full circle. “When you want something badly enough, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it,” says Khaledi. His determination inspires an entire generation of fellow immigrants to take care of their own and invest in the larger community.
Visit: Darioush Winery: www.darioush.com
Darioush Winery photos by Ali Moayedian
Iranian geologist discovers mud volcano phenomenon on Mars
TEHRAN, Jun. 27 (ISNA)-Iranian geologist and university professor has successfully discovered mud volcano phenomenon on the planet Mars. The results of this discovery, which according to Dr. Abbas Kangi may be the first in their kind, have been published in an article in a journal related to the International Academy of Astronauticsin, Acta Astronautica.
Dr. Abbas Kangi
Proving this discovery can lead to evidence of fossilized life on the surface of the red planet, Mars.
"In my research and through the pictures taken by NASA's satellite, Mars Express, I was successful in discovering this phenomenon," Dr. Kangi in an interview with ISNA explained.
"In the vicinity of this volcano cone, most of the lava is covered with a thick layer of loose sediments (probably clay). The presence of such sediments at the base of the volcano cone has led to the formation of several major landslides. Moreover, liquid water flow on the volcano cone has created a myriad of radial channels. The formation of such structures on the cone of a volcano is only plausible as a result of eruption of a mud volcano from its crater. Besides, the constant discharge of mud-like materials as well as hot water from the volcano paves the way for the growth and evolution of hydrothermal organisms," he added.
http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-949719&Lang=E
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President Jacques Chirac presents Dr. Ebadi with the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor (Above) Dr. Ebadi gives her acceptance speech
Ebadi awarded the prestigious "Legion of Honor" by French President Chirac
(28 November 2006) On November 6th Dr. Shirin Ebadi was awarded the “Legion of Honor,” the highest and most distinguished honor given by the French government. French President Jacques Chirac presented Ebadi with the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor, saying "France would like to pay tribute to your work, which you devote entirely to the defense of law, justice, dignity and liberty. Through your courage and your pride, you defend a specifically Iranian vision that affirms the compatibility between Islamic values and those of democracy and human rights."
In her acceptance speech, Ebadi avowed, “Awarding this medal is tantamount to thanking all those who have fought for the last fifty years in order to promote human rights and democracy in Iran.” She went on to urge Mr. Chirac, as President of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to ensure that Security Council discussions on Iran first and foremost consider and examine violations of human rights in Iran, rather than solely focusing on the nuclear issue.
The French government rarely confers the Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander; Ebadi is the first Iranian to receive this illustrious rank.
The remarks of President Chirac and Dr. Ebadi can be downloaded in Persian below.
President_Chirac's_Remarks_in_Persian.pdf
Dr._Ebadi's_Acceptance_Speech_in_Persian.pdf
http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/news.php?WEBYEP_DI=60
Autobiography
I was born in the city of Hamedan [northwestern Iran] in 1947. My family were academics and practising Muslims. At the time of my birth my father was the head of Hamedan's Registry Office. My father, Mohammad Ali Ebadi, one of the first lecturers in commercial law, had written several books. He passed away in 1993.
I spent my childhood in a family filled with kindness and affection. I have two sisters and a brother all of whom are highly educated. My mother dedicated all her time and devotion to our upbringing.
I came to Tehran with my family when I was a one year old and have since been a resident in the capital. I began my education at Firuzkuhi primary school and went on to Anoshiravn Dadgar and Reza Shah Kabir secondary schools for my higher education. I sat the Tehran University entrance exams and gained a place at the Faculty of Law in 1965. I received my law degree in three-and-a-half years, and immediately sat the entrance exams for the Department of Justice. After a six-month apprenticeship in adjudication, I began to serve officially as a judge in March 1969. While serving as a judge, I continued my education and obtained a doctorate with honours in private law from Tehran University in 1971.
I held a variety of positions in the Justice Department. In 1975, I became the President of Bench 24 of the [Tehran] City Court. I am the first woman in the history of Iranian justice to have served as a judge. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979, since the belief was that Islam forbids women to serve as judges, I and other female judges were dismissed from our posts and given clerical duties. They made me a clerk in the very court I once presided over. We all protested. As a result, they promoted all former female judges, including myself, to the position of "experts" in the Justice Department. I could not tolerate the situation any longer, and so put in a request for early retirement. My request was accepted. Since the Bar Association had remained closed for some time since the revolution and was being managed by the Judiciary, my application for practising law was turned down. I was, in effect, housebound for many years. Finally, in 1992 I succeeded in obtaining a lawyer's licence and set up my own practice.
I used my time of unemployment to write several books and had many articles published in Iranian journals. After receiving my lawyer's licence I accepted to defend many cases. Some were national cases. Among them, I represented the families of the serial murders victims (the family of Dariush and Parvaneh Foruhar) and Ezzat Ebrahiminejad, who were killed during the attack on the university dormitory. I also participated in some press-related cases. I took on a large number of social cases, too, including child abuse. Recently I agreed to represent the mother of Mrs Zahra Kazemi, a photojournalist killed in Iran.
I also teach at university. Each year, a number of students from outside Iran join my human rights training courses.
I am married. My husband is an electrical engineer. We have two daughters. One is 23 years old. She is studying for a doctorate in telecommunications at McGill University in Canada. The other is 20 years old and is in her third year at Tehran University where she reads law.
| Social Activities
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| Leading several research projects for the UNICEF office in Tehran.
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| Cofounder of the Association for Support of Children’s Rights, 1995. I was the association’s president until 2000, and have continued to assist them as legal adviser. Currently the association has over 500 active members.
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| Providing various stages of free tuition in children’s rights and human rights.
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| Cofounder of the Human Rights Defence Centre with four defence lawyers, 2001. I am the centre’s president.
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| Delivering over 30 lectures to university and academic conferences and seminars on human rights. The lectures have been delivered in Iran, France, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and America.
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| Representing several journalists or their families, accused or sentenced in relation to freedom of expression. They include Habibollah Peyman (for writing articles and delivering speeches on freedom of expression); Abbas Marufi, the editor-in-chief of the monthly Gardoun (for publishing several interviews and poems); Faraj Sarkuhi (editor-in-chief of Adineh monthly).
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| Representing families of serial murder victims (the Foruhar family).
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| Representing the family of Ezzat Ebrahiminejad, murdered in the 9 July 1999 attack on the university dormitory.
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| Representing the mother of Arin Golshani, a child separated from her mother as a consequence of the child custody law. She was found tortured to death at the home of her stepmother.
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| Proposing to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) to ratify a law on prohibiting all forms of violence against children; as a result the law was promptly debated and ratified in the summer of 2002.
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| Publications
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| Books
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| Criminal Laws, Tehran 1972. Published by Bank Melli of Iran (Professor Rahnama; Professor Abdolhoseyn Aliabadi).
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| The Rights of the Child; A study in the legal aspects of children’s rights in Iran, 1987. Translated into English by Mohammad Zamiran. Published by UNICEF, 1993.
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| Medical Laws; Tehran, 1988. Published by Zavar.
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| Young Workers, Tehran, 1989. Published by Roshangaran.
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| Copyright Laws, Tehran, 1989. Published by Roshangaran.
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| Architectural Laws, Tehran, 1991. Published by Roshangaran.
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| The Rights of Refugees, Tehran, 1993. Published by Ganj-e Danesh.
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| History and Documentation of Human Rights in Iran, Tehran, 1993. Published by Roshangaran.
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| Tradition and Modernity, Tehran 1995. Written by Mohammad Zamiran, Shirin Ebadi. Published by Ganj-e Danesh.
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| Children’s Comparative Law, Tehran, 1997. Published by Kanoun (This book was translated into English by Mr Hamid Marashi, and published by UNICEF in Tehran in 1998).
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| The Rights of Women, Tehran, 2002. Published by Ganj-e Danesh.
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* Details provided are taken from the original publications.
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| Articles
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| “The Child and Family Law”; A series of articles appearing in the Encyclopedia Iranica. Published by Columbia University.
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| “The Rights of Parents”; Article published in the journal Studies in the Social Impacts of Biotechnology. Published by CNRS, France
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| “Women and Legal Forms of Violence in Iran”; Article published in the Bonyad Iran journal in Paris on the subject of violence.
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| Over 70 articles on various aspects of human rights which have appeared in various publications in Iran. Some have been translated into English. They were presented at CRC [Convention on the Rights of the Child], a seminar organized by UNICEF in 1997.
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| Articles published in various weeklies, including Fekr-e Now New Ideas, on various aspects of laws relating to women.
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| Prizes and Accolades
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| An official Human Rights Watch observer, 1996.
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| The selection of The Rights of the Child as Book of the Year by the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry.
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| Recipient of the Rafto Human Rights Foundation prize for human rights activities, Norway 2001.
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| The Nobel Peace Prize, Norway 2003. |
From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Prizes 2003, Editor Tore Frängsmyr, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 2004
This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and later published in the book series Les Prix Nobel/Nobel Lectures. The information is sometimes updated with an addendum submitted by the Laureate. To cite this document, always state the source as shown above.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2003/ebadi-autobio.html
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