Clos Pegase is a winery located in the Napa Valley region of California. Founded in 1984 by Mitsuko and Jan Shrem, the winery is known for its innovative wine-making techniques and its commitment to sustainability.
The winery was founded in 1984 by Mitsuko and Jan Shrem, who purchased a property in the Napa Valley and named it Clos Pegase, after the Greek god of wine, Dionysus. The Shrems were inspired by the wine-making traditions of France and set out to create a winery that combined the best of Old World and New World techniques.
One of the key figures at Clos Pegase was winemaker Mark Herold, who was hired by the Shrems in the early 1990s. Herold, who had previously worked at several wineries in California and France, brought a unique perspective to the winemaking process at Clos Pegase. He was known for his experimental approach to wine-making and for his use of unusual grape varieties.
Clos Pegase has vineyards in several locations in the Napa Valley, including the Calistoga, St. Helena, and Carneros regions. The winery grows a variety of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. In addition to these more traditional varieties, Clos Pegase also grows less common grapes such as Viognier and Petite Sirah.
Clos Pegase’s winemaking process begins with the careful selection of grapes, which are hand-picked and sorted to ensure only the best fruit is used. The grapes are then crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the type of wine being produced.
After fermentation, the wines are aged in oak barrels for varying periods of time, depending on the specific wine. Clos Pegase is known for its use of both French oak and American oak barrels, which lend different flavors and aromas to the wines.
In addition to traditional winemaking techniques, Clos Pegase also employs innovative methods such as cold soak fermentation and extended barrel aging. These techniques help to bring out the unique character of each grape variety and create complex, well-balanced wines.
Add Review
Read More Reviews
Andi Myers
11 months agoAs a member at Girard, we got benefits to complete a complementary tasting here. It’s a beautiful building and our host, Cheryl, was great at walking us through their history and the wines. We fell in love with their dessert wine which is t on the tasting menu but we saw someone else try it so we had to see. I definitely recommend a visit here.
V W
a year agoExcellent tour with Wes. Really fun sharing the wine testing experience with other customers on the tour. Beautiful architecture and the cave was enjoyable. Great Cabernet selections and Hommage Chardonnay were delicious.
William ORourke
a year agoA wonderful visit here with my family. It's truly one of the best wineries and tours we experienced while in Napa Valley. Knowledgeable and fun staff, delightful wine, and intimate cave tours. Please visit!
Wanderers Compass Travel Blog
3 years agoThis was our first visit, and what a find. Arvind poured for us, and we were blown away by their exquisite wines and the beautiful setting. We had committed not to join any wineries on this trip, but Clos Pegase easily won. We both joined as we were so impressed with their collection. The facility is expansive and modern. Art work through with tasteful decor. There are multiple tasting areas indoors and outdoors the tasting area is near the vineyards with gas fire pits to add to the ambiance. Their food offerings well done and accompany the wine well. The staff is relaxed and pour generously. They are extremely knowledgeable and love to talk about wine. It was the perfect end to a full day of wine tasting. Reservations are recommended especially on weekends. I returned with a colleague a few days later, and we spent 3 hours there. She joined the winery as well. Looking forward to many visits over the years!
Carly
a year agoHad the best experience at Clos today! We were greeted and looked after by Wes who was absolutely brilliant and incredible. He was knowledgeable, funny and friendly. After tasting a few wines, we were treated to a tour of the cave. It was such a treat, and Wes was so sweet. Somehow by the end of the day, we ended up signing up for a membership! Can’t wait to go back. Thanks Wes!