Clos Pegase

Jan Shrem (1930-2024) built a publishing business in Japan, during which time he married Mitsuko Shrem (d. 2010), and later entered the enology program at the University of Bordeaux. In 1983 he acquired the Dunaweal Lane property in Calistoga, and he and Mitsuko founded Clos Pegase that year. The name joins the French word clos, an enclosed or walled vineyard, with Pegase, the French spelling of Pegasus; Jan Shrem was inspired by a painting of Pegasus by the French Symbolist Odilon Redon in his collection. He enlisted the help of André Tchelistcheff, and the first vintage was produced at Rombauer Vineyards before the Clos Pegase winery was built. The winery opened in 1987. In 2013 Jan Shrem sold the winery to Vintage Wine Estates, leaving only a few pieces of art. Vintage Wine Estates went bankrupt in 2024, and Jay Adair (executive chairman of Copart) and his wife, Tammi, acquired Clos Pegase and four other wineries (Viansa Sonoma, B.R. Cohn, Kunde Family Winery and Girard Winery) for $85 million. After the deal closed in October 2024, the Adairs closed Clos Pegase to the public to undertake long-deferred maintenance. The winery reopened in 2026 after a 15-month rehabilitation, and a grand reopening celebration took place on June 27, 2026.

• 1983: Jan and Mitsuko Shrem founded Clos Pegase in Calistoga; the winery opened in 1987.
• The first vintage was produced at Rombauer Vineyards before the winery was built.
• 2013: sold to Vintage Wine Estates.
• October 2024: the acquisition by Jay and Tammi Adair closed, following the Vintage Wine Estates bankruptcy; the winery reopened in 2026.

Clos Pegase was owned by Jay and Tammi Adair; Jay Adair was executive chairman of Copart, a global online car auction company based in Dallas, and Tammi Adair, a co-owner, had led the restoration of the winery. Robin Akhurst was the winemaker and had worked at the winery since 2016.

• Owners: Jay and Tammi Adair, whose Adair Family Wines portfolio also includes Viansa, Kunde, Girard and B.R. Cohn.
• Winemaker: Robin Akhurst, at the winery since 2016.
• Founders: Jan Shrem (1930-2024) and Mitsuko Shrem (d. 2010).

Jan and Mitsuko Shrem launched an international competition with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to find a designer for the winery, and they chose Michael Graves (1934-2015). His classical, Mediterranean-inspired design featured sunset hues of terracotta, pale yellow and blue and a large portico with views of vineyards and mountains. The building is often called the Napa Wine Temple for its Greek-styled architecture. A 20,000-square-foot cave includes the Cave Theater. Under the Shrems' ownership, Clos Pegase showed nearly 1,000 works of art, including several large-scale sculptures. Vintage Wine Estates later painted the winery gray; working with the firm of Michael Graves, the Adairs recovered the original color palette. They also replaced 52 cypress trees in the courtyard, planted cherry trees to honor Mitsuko Shrem's Japanese heritage and moved an 18th-century European fountain installed by the founders to the front of the members' tasting room. Former administrative offices now house a gallery for rotating exhibitions; as of October 2026 the exhibition featured Carlo Marchiori.

• Designed by Michael Graves, chosen through a competition run with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
• A 20,000-square-foot cave includes the Cave Theater.
• Original color palette recovered under the Adairs, working with the firm of Michael Graves.
• A gallery for rotating exhibitions occupies former office space.

Clos Pegase has estate vineyards in Calistoga and Carneros. For the 2021 vintage, the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon came from Tenma Vineyard above Jericho Canyon in Calistoga and from the vineyard surrounding the winery. Mitsuko's Vineyard, named for Mitsuko Shrem, covers 365 acres in the Napa Carneros; it is planted primarily to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, along with Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. As of October 2026, the wine list also included a Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 3 of Milat Ranch in St. Helena.

• Calistoga (2021 Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon): Tenma Vineyard above Jericho Canyon, and the vineyard surrounding the winery.
• Mitsuko's Vineyard: 365 acres in the Napa Carneros, planted primarily to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
• St. Helena: Block 3 of Milat Ranch, the source of a Cabernet Sauvignon.

As of May 2026, the signature wines were Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. As of October 2026, wines listed on the Adair Family Wines store included, from Mitsuko's Vineyard, a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Pommard-clone Pinot Noir and a Blanc de Noir sparkling wine; the Hommage Chardonnay from Carneros; Cabernet Sauvignon from Block D9 of Tenma Vineyard and from Block 3 of Milat Ranch; an Estate Cabernet Franc; a Merlot; the Pegaso red blend; a Bordeaux Blend Red Wine; and The Portico Dessert Cuvée from Amador County. In May 2026 the winery was also introducing an Artist Series of about 1,000 cases a year, with labels featuring work by emerging artists; as of May 2026 its six wines were to include Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet and Albariño, with a different artist each vintage.

• Signature wines (as of May 2026): Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
• Mitsuko's Vineyard bottlings: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pommard-clone Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir sparkling wine.
• Single-block Cabernet Sauvignon from Tenma Vineyard (Block D9) and Milat Ranch (Block 3).
• Artist Series (announced May 2026): about 1,000 cases a year, with labels featuring work by emerging artists.

Clos Pegase describes its Signature Tasting as a flight of 'expressive, terroir-driven wines' ranging 'from the cool, fog-kissed Carneros to the sun-drenched Calistoga.' In May 2026, winemaker Robin Akhurst said the Artist Series would focus on 'pretty eccentric varietals,' adding: 'We’re trying to give people something they won’t bump into that frequently up here.'

As of October 2026, Clos Pegase, at 1060 Dunaweal Lane in Calistoga, is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and tastings require a reservation. The Signature Tasting is held in the renovated tasting room; the Pegase Collection includes locally sourced cheese and charcuterie; and the Art of Wine takes guests through the vineyards, art gallery, gardens and sculptures before a final pour in the tasting room.

• The Signature Tasting, in the renovated tasting room.
• The Pegase Collection, with locally sourced cheese and charcuterie.
• The Art of Wine, a walk through the vineyards, gallery, gardens and sculptures.

Primary sources (producer's own site and owner group's store): https://clospegase.com/, https://clospegase.com/visit, https://adairfamilywines.com/wines-clos-pegase?brand=CLO. Secondary sources: San Francisco Chronicle (Jess Lander, May 6, 2026), https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/clos-pegase-winery-calistoga-22212074.php; The Press Democrat / North Bay Business Journal (Jeff Quackenbush, May 6, 2026), https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/05/06/clos-pegase-napa-winery-reopening/; The Napa Wine Project, https://www.napawineproject.com/clos-pegase/. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs. Last verified 2026-10-14