Clos Pegase is one of the most architecturally significant wineries in California. Jan Shrem commissioned postmodern architect Michael Graves to design the building in 1987 after winning a competition organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, creating a landmark that put the winery on the cultural map before the wine did. The Cabernet and Merlot from Calistoga have since built their own reputation.

History of Clos Pegase

Jan Shrem, a book publisher and art collector, purchased property in Calistoga in the early 1980s and embarked on an unusual process to build his winery: he organized a design competition through the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, inviting prominent architects to submit proposals for a temple to wine and art. Michael Graves won the 1984 competition and designed the iconic building that opened in 1987.

The name Clos Pegase references the mythological winged horse Pegasus, whom the ancient Greeks credited with striking Hippocrene, the fountain of artistic inspiration, from a mountainside. Shrem saw wine as the modern equivalent of that fountain. The estate was acquired by Vintage Wine Estates in 2013, which expanded distribution and maintained the art and architecture programs.

Jan Shrem won a 1984 competition to have the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art commission an architectural winery design. Michael Graves won the design competition and built something that looked unlike any winery in California, a postmodern temple to wine with ochre columns, a ceremonial forecourt, and an underground cave system that doubles as an art gallery.

Vineyards and terroir at Clos Pegase

Clos Pegase farms estate vineyards across two main sites in Calistoga. The Mitsuko’s Vineyard, named for Jan Shrem’s late wife, sits on the valley floor below the Palisades cliffs near Knights Valley. The Hommage Vineyard is the estate block adjacent to the winery building on Dunaweal Lane.

Calistoga is the warmest of Napa Valley’s sub-appellations on the valley floor but the volcanic soils and the proximity to the Palisades cliffs moderate temperatures more than many visitors expect. Clos Pegase benefits from afternoon shadow from the cliffs and from the morning fog that still reaches the northern valley in most vintages, giving the Cabernet from these sites more freshness than the appellation’s warm reputation would suggest.

The wines of Clos Pegase

Cabernet Sauvignon from Mitsuko’s Vineyard is the flagship, a structured wine with dark fruit and the mineral character associated with Calistoga volcanic soils. The Hommage Cabernet is the top reserve tier, made in small quantities in the best vintages and representing the estate’s finest expression.

Merlot from Mitsuko’s Vineyard is a consistent highlight of the lineup, with plush dark cherry fruit and enough structure to reward several years of cellaring. Clos Pegase also produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a Cabernet-based red blend. The underground cave system beneath the winery houses an art collection that includes works by Henry Moore, Barry Flanagan, and other major 20th-century figures.

Food pairings with Clos Pegase wines

The Cabernet Sauvignon from Mitsuko’s Vineyard has the warmth and generosity of Calistoga fruit with enough structure for serious food. Grilled New York strip with roasted garlic butter, lamb chops with mint chimichurri, or a slow-roasted duck with cherry reduction all complement the wine’s dark fruit character without competing with it.

The Merlot from the same vineyard is more flexible at the table: braised short ribs, mushroom pasta, roasted chicken with herbs, or a simple burger from quality beef all work beautifully. The Chardonnay from cooler sites suits Dungeness crab, grilled halibut, or a simple roasted chicken that lets the wine’s texture and acidity shine.

Clos Pegase Winery: common questions