Amusements: Wineries inspired by the ancients

I've just stumbled across Enkidu Wine (thanks to Classics in Contemporary Culture)

Enkidu produces wines primarily from the varieties grown in the Burgundy and Rhone Valley of France. Pinot Noir (a little bit of the dead, a little of the living); Syrah (barnyard, smoked meat and white pepper) and Petite Sirah (a warrior with a sword who first learned to dance) were our inaugural varietals.

Enkidu is an ensemble of people who are passionate about wine. For us the wines we produce are in response to the fruit in the vineyards, not dictated by a recipe preconceived in the office. Our wines are the result of diligent work in the vineyards by these dedicated viticulturists with whom we consult throughout the year to maximize the quality of the fruit.

Enkidu was told by the sacred slave: "Eat bread, oh, Enkidu! It is the fountain of life; drink the wine, it is the custom of the land." Then Enkidu ate the bread till he was full, drank the wine, seven goblets...”

But they have a way to go before they are a rival to Darioush

Darioush welcomes guests to its new visitor center and winery beginning August 16, 2004. The new architectural building comes after five years in the making, and combines materials, castings, and furnishings from distant lands and exotic locations. The 22,000 square foot winery, the first in America to combine architecture, design and Persian culture, provides a unique and exhilarating experience in California’s most renowned wine destination. Reminiscent of the great noble architecture that once existed, the imagery of the Darioush building evokes Persepolis, the illustrious capital of ancient Persia.