Remembering Jan Shrem: Philanthropist and Founder of Napa’s Clos Pegase Passes Away at 94

The contributions of the winery owner, art enthusiast, and humanitarian to the California wine sector were profound.

Jan Shrem, who significantly influenced California’s wine landscape through his artistic passion and philanthropic efforts, passed away last month at the age of 94. As the founder of Clos Pegase winery in Calistoga, Shrem was also a dedicated philanthropist. His generosity extended to The MET Opera, Festival Napa Valley, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the University of California at San Francisco Neurology Clinic. Notably, he had a long-standing collaboration with the University of California at Davis, where he supported the arts, including aiding in the development of the university’s Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.

“Jan was truly passionate. He approached everything with full commitment,” remarked Rick Walker, president and CEO of Festival Napa Valley. “His business in Japan was vast and extremely successful; and his winery in Napa was not just an architectural marvel but also a haven for fine wine and art. He was quite entertaining, with a sparkle in his eye that would light up the room.”

Born in 1930 in Colombia to Jewish-Lebanese parents, Shrem spent his childhood in Jerusalem before moving to the United States as a teenager. He went on to graduate from the University of California Los Angeles. Shrem began his career selling encyclopedias, later relocating to Japan, where he established a thriving business that published English-language reference materials and art literature. While in Japan, he met his first wife, Mitsuko.

Shrem embarked on a new publishing venture in Europe while simultaneously building an impressive art collection. Pursuing another passion, he enrolled at the University of Bordeaux to study enology before ultimately returning to California. Together with Mitsuko, they settled in Napa Valley, acquired 50 acres in Calistoga, and established Clos Pegase in 1983.

André Tchelistcheff crafted the initial wines from the 1985 harvest, and the winery soon became a cherished spot for art enthusiasts, who came to experience Shrem’s sculpture garden, showcasing both contemporary and classical pieces throughout the winery grounds.

Mitsuko passed away in 2010, and by 2013, after Shrem had expanded Clos Pegase into a 25,000-case winery with 215 acres of vineyards, he sold it to Vintage Wine Estates. Jay Adair, a billionaire from Texas specializing in auto parts, recently purchased the winery after the bankruptcy proceedings of Vintage Wine Estates.

Shrem created a charitable foundation supported by his vast real estate and art assets. In 2011, he and his second wife, Maria Manetti Farrow, made a significant $10 million naming donation to U.C. Davis to aid in funding the campus art museum along with a teaching and cultural resource center.

“He was always a joy to be around,” shared Robin Baggett, owner of Alpha Omega Collective and the current chairman of Festival Napa Valley. “I’ve never seen him without a smile on his face.”

In 2016, when the U.C. Davis museum opened, Shrem expressed to Wine Spectator that the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art was a dream that had been in the making for over 60 years. “This museum was a shared vision with our dear friend, Margrit Mondavi, and it was our privilege to partner with her and many others to bring it to life.” At that time, Mondavi, a close friend of both Shrem and Manetti Farrow, generously donated $2 million to the museum. Today, it showcases over 5,800 works of art from renowned artists such as Wayne Thiebaud, Bruce Nauman, and Deborah Butterfield.

Shrem is survived by his wife, Maria, and his son, Marc Shrem.

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