Darioush
2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley AVA
Auction 30 | Lot No. 7
Vintage: 2024
Darioush
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
20 cases produced
Highlights
- Cultivated at 1,800 feet on Mount Veeder’s rugged, marine-influenced slopes.
- The pinnacle expression of Darioush’s Sage Vineyard estate terroir.
- A vintage defined by precision—vibrant, finely structured, and impeccably balanced.
- Layered and age-worthy, with blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and delightful herbal notes.
Description
Cultivated at 1,800 feet on Mount Veeder’s rugged, marine-influenced slopes, this limited Cabernet Sauvignon is the pinnacle expression of Darioush’s Sage Vineyard estate. Perched above the fog line, the vineyard’s rocky soils yield small, concentrated berries that capture the hallmarks of Mount Veeder’s rugged terroir. The 2024 vintage showcases Sage Vineyard’s ability to produce fruit of remarkable balance and vibrancy, rooted in profound precision and structured purity. This rare wine stands as a collector’s statement piece; a tribute to the quiet majesty of Sage Vineyard itself.
Wine Facts
- Sustainably produced
- Organically produced (also commonly called "organically grown")
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Steve Devitt
Winemaker, Darioush
Steve Devitt has played a defining role in shaping the Darioush winegrowing vision. With decades of experience in Napa Valley, he brought an exacting understanding of vineyard expression, estate stewardship, and balance to the founding of Darioush wines—establishing a style rooted in precision, restraint, and authenticity.
Steve’s philosophy has always centered on the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard. His intimate knowledge of Darioush’s estate sites, soils, and microclimates guided the development of the winery’s vineyards and set a lasting standard for how each block is farmed and expressed. Under his direction, Darioush became known for limited-production wines that reflect both place and patience, crafted with minimal intervention and thoughtful attention from harvest through élevage.
Though Steve retired from his full-time role in 2018, he continues to consult closely with the winemaking team. Today, his perspective is especially instrumental in ensuring continuity of style and expression, supporting a seamless evolution as the next generation of winemaking leadership carries the wines forward. His collaborative partnership remains a vital link between Darioush’s founding vision and its future—preserving the integrity, elegance, and character that define the estate.
Country born: United States
Education: UC Davis
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Great wine begins in the vineyard.
Itzel De Santiago
Winemaker, Darioush
Itzel de Santiago’s winemaking blends precision, intuition, and a deep respect for the vineyard. Born in Mexico and raised in St. Helena, she grew up immersed in Napa Valley wines, exploring vineyards and spending time in the cellar where her father worked. A formative study-abroad experience in Italy at sixteen shaped her understanding of wine as culture, leading her to pursue viticulture over a biology degree at Cal Poly, where she graduated with honors and contributed to the creation of the SLO Coast AVA.
Since joining Darioush five years ago, Itzel has brought over a decade of Napa Valley experience and a philosophy rooted in balance— crafting wines where terroir, acidity, and tannin converge in harmony. She thrives during harvest, where challenge and collaboration define the season, and finds quiet satisfaction in bottling, seeing years of meticulous care come to fruition. Outside the cellar, Itzel is a devoted wife and mother, embracing balance in life as she does in her wines.
Country born: Mexico
Education: Degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cal Poly.
Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years
Honors / Awards:
Graduated with honors.
Winemaking Philosophy:
“Winemaking is about patience, observation, and bringing harmony to what the vineyard gives me.”
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness
1320 West Fullerton
Chicago IL 60614
312-730-7333
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Lakeshore Sport & Fitness:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford Hill Winery | 2023 | Red Table Wine | Napa Valley | The Vista | 29 (2025) |
| STEREOGRAPH | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 29 (2025) | |
| VGS Chateau Potelle | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 40th Anniversary Cuvée | 29 (2025) |
| Baldacci Family Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Valley's Beauty | 28 (2024) |
| Gamble Family Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | New Beginnings 2.0 | 28 (2024) |
| Cliff Lede Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Bohemian Thrill | 27 (2023) |
| Hyde Vineyard Estate | 2022 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 27 (2023) |
Winery Distribution
Darioush is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (Pinnacle imports)
- Arizona (Maverick Beverage Company of Arizona- Quench )
- Arkansas (SOUTHERN GLAZERS OF AR)
- California (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Colorado (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Connecticut (BRESCOME BARTON – WORLDWIDE WINE )
- Florida (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Georgia (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING CO)
- Hawaii (SOUTHERN GLAZERS WINE & SPIRITS)
- Illinois (WINEBOW, INC)
- Indiana (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Iowa (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Kansas (STANDARD BEVERAGE )
- Kentucky (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Louisiana (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Maryland (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Massachusetts (HORIZON BEVERAGE)
- Michigan (GREAT LAKES WINE & SPIRITS)
- Mississippi (MADVINES & SPIRITS)
- Missouri (BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE MISSOURI)
- Montana (GEORGE'S DISTRIBUTING)
- Nebraska (QUAIL DISTRIBUTING)
- Nevada (SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS/J&P WHOLESALE)
- New Hampshire (PERFECTA WINES )
- New Jersey (FREDERICK WILDMAN AND SONS)
- New Mexico (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- New York (VINTUS NEW YORK)
- North Carolina (TRYON DISTRIBUTING)
- Ohio (HEIDELBERG DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Oklahoma (PREMIUM BRANDS WINE & SPIRITS COMPANY)
- Oregon (CASA BRUNO)
- Rhode Island (HORIZON BEVERAGE)
- South Carolina (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Tennessee (LIPMAN BROTHERS)
- Tennessee (SOUTHERN GLAZERS OF TN)
- Texas (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Utah (VINE LORE)
- Virginia (REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY)
- Washington (VEHRS DISTRIBUTING)
- Wisconsin (L'EFT BANK WINE COMPANY)
International:
- Belgium (NIEUWEWERELDWIJNEN)
- Bermuda (GOSLING'S LTD)
- Canada (The Case for Wine | Toronto | Ontario)
- Canada - Alberta (Artisan Wines )
- Canada - British Columbia (NEW WORLD WINES)
- China (Looking for representation)
- Denmark (OTTO SUENSON & CO)
- Dominican Republic (El Catador)
- Germany (CALIFORNIA WINES)
- Hong Kong (Looking for representation)
- Japan (DEPT PLANNING CO., LTD)
- Luxembourg (AMCELLARS)
- Mexico (VIPARMEX)
- Netherlands (IC-WINES BV)
- Norway (Looking for representation)
- Puerto Rico (Fine Wine Imports)
- Russia (Looking for representation)
- Singapore (PINNACLE WINE & SPIRITS)
- South Korea (Wine2UKorea)
- Sweden (Soutirage AB)
- Taiwan (PROWINE CO. LTD)
- United Arab Emirates (AFRICAN + EASTERN)
- United Kingdom (THE VINEYARD CELLARS)