Clos Pegase Archives - Wine Country Getaways

Clos Pegase – before and after

February 13, 2016 by Joe Becerra

: Built in 1983 by Jan Shrem

: The new look of Clos Pegase

: Sold in 2013

: Which look to you prefer?

Clos Pegase – before and after – which do you prefer?

Clos Pegase is one of the most striking wineries in the Napa Valley. It is located just off the Silverado Trail on Dunaweal Lane near Calistoga. Known for its art deco style and its amazing works of art, Clos Pegase has been a fixture in the Napa Valley since its founding in 1983. Book publisher and businessman Jan Schrem established the winery along with his wife, Mitsuko. The winery was completed in 1987. In 2013, at the age of 83, Mr. Schrem no longer had the stamina to continue running the winery and decided it was time to sell Clos Pegase. The buyer was Leslie Rudd and partners in the Vintage Wine Estates. Leslie Rudd owns several businesses, including Dean & DeLuca, the Oakville Grocery, Press Restaurant and the Rudd Winery. I’d always loved the exterior view of Clos Pegase. The pastel colors seemed to blend in perfectly with the vines, the Vaca Mountains and the blue sky. Clos Pegase has a new look. Which do you prefer? I love the colors of the old Clos Pegase! What will also be missed are the works of art, which were not part of the purchase. They were donated to the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at U.C. Davis, scheduled to open in the Fall of 2016. The Clos Pegase winery is open for tasting daily, 10:30am to 5 pm.

Additional important Silverado Trail resources

Art and Wine Country

November 29, 2014 by Joe Becerra

Art in Wine Country at the Clos Pegase Winery in the Napa Valley

Art and Wine Country

There are many wineries where wine country travelers can view “Art in the Wine Country.” The Clos Pegase Winery in the Napa Valley, in this photo, is just one. However, it is one of our favorites for these reasons. First and foremost, the architecture, which is a Postmodern design. It is stunning any season of the year. The winery was built in 1987 and the Strems, the owners at the time, held a competition in association with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Michael Graves was the winning architect.

The grounds are filled with dazzling works of art, as one can see in the photo above. There is a courtyard and a picnic area that is a delightful spot for visitors to sit and relax. And of course, besides the stunning buildings and grounds, there is the delicious wine. Our favorite is the Pegaso Red Wine Blend. The tasting room and winery are open daily from 10:30am to 5:00pm. The Clos Pegase winery is located near Calistoga, just off the Silverado Trail on Dunaweal Lane. Consult the Clos Pegase Website for complete tasting and touring information.

Additional Art and Wine Country

Clos Pegase Winery Sold to Leslie Rudd

August 21, 2013 by Joe Becerra

Clos Pegase

Yet another Napa Valley winery has exchanged owners. This time it is one of our favorite wineries to visit in the Napa Valley. Clos Pegase is one of our favorites in terms of its wonderful appeal as it sits among the vines and the backdrop of the Vaca Mountains. It is an architectural wonder among wineries of the Napa Valley. The winery is stunning, painted in pastel colors with lines and columns that blend in perfectly with the vineyards and surrounding countryside. The grounds and interior are immersed with works of art. It is a delight to stroll the vineyards and the gardens of this secluded winery off the Silverado Trail on Dunaweal Lane. We think it is a “must visit” for the wine country traveler.

According to Lettie Teague of the Wall Street Journal, the owner Jan Shrem sold the winery because at age 83 he no longer has the energy and drive to do what it takes to run a winery. The Lettie Teague article states that Jan Shrem and his wife will donate many of the sculptures that sit on the winery to UC Davis. That means in the future the winery atmosphere will be missing an integral part of its mystique.

The new owners are a group of investors led by Leslie Rudd. Leslie owns Dean & Deluca, the Oakville Grocery stores in Oakville and Healdsburg, Press Restaurant in St. Helena, and two wineries, Rudd Winery and Edge Hill Estate. Clos Pegase wines have always been highly regarded and reasonably priced in terms of Napa Valley wines. What the new owners will do is only conjecture at this point. They could increase production, replant the vineyards, make cult wines, or just keep things as they are today. My guess is the latter will not be the case. Otherwise, why take the opportunity to make such a large purchase? In the meantime, visitors to wine country should jump on the chance to visit Clos Pegase before any of the beautiful pieces of the Jan Shrem art collection make their way to U.C. Davis.

This is the third winery in recent months to be sold in the Napa Valley. Previously this year, the historic Mayacamus Vineyards was sold and just last month the Araujo Estate winery was sold to French winery owners. Will this trend continue?

Other nearby wineries can be found on the Calistoga Wine Trail and the Silverado Wine Trails.