 Clos LaChance Wines
Only 20 minutes, South of San Jose...Clos LaChance Wines.
THE NAME AND SYMBOL: Clos LaChance Winery takes its name from the small fenced-in area encompassing a vineyard (Clos) and from co-owner Brenda Murphy’s maiden name. The Murphy’s chose the Hummingbird as the winery’s symbol for both its aesthetic beauty and its ability to keep other birds away from the grapes. Each label displays the Hummingbird, and starting in 2005 with the release of the Hummingbird Series, Clos LaChance will name some of its wines after these birds.
HISTORY: In 1987, co-owners Bill and Brenda Murphy decided to plant a few rows of Chardonnay in their Saratoga backyard for landscaping purposes and to realize their dreams of being vintners. A few years later, the wines produced from this small backyard vineyard were good enough to sell to the public and friends of Bill and Brenda! It was at this point that Clos LaChance formed into a full fledged winery. The first commercially released wines were from the 1992 vintage.
In 1996, in order to ensure a continuing supply of high quality fruit, Bill and Brenda established CK Vines, a vineyard maintenance and installation company specializing in "back-yard" vineyard development throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. CK Vines is named after the Murphy's two daughters (Cheryl and Kristin). Currently, CK Vines manages 30 acres of backyard vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountain and Central Coast AVA’s.
WINERY LOCATION: Clos LaChance Winery & Estate Vineyard is located in San Martin, CA (20 miles south of San Jose). The Murphy’s opened the winery production facility in time for the 2001 harvest, while the Hospitality Center, including tasting room, patio, and banquet and wedding facilities, opened to the public in May of 2002. Adjacent to CordeValle Resort & Golf Course’s 6th hole, the winery is ideally situated and designed to provide visitors with breathtaking views of the Estate Vineyard and surrounding hills.
TASTING ROOM: Clos LaChance’s Hospitality Center and Tasting Room welcomes visitors daily to escape the hustle and bustle by enjoying a wonderful selection of wines, while taking in the breathtaking views and landscape of the wine country region. Whether you’re a wine geek or newbie, Clos LaChance knowledgeable tasting room staff will guide you through the magic of making and enjoying wine. The winery offers a variety of wine tasting programs and tours to choose from, including a “Limited Edition” tasting featuring their reserve and small production wines and tours of the cellar and winemaking facility. The winery also offers a handful of special events throughout the year, along with their signature Time for Wine Thursdays (Memorial Day through Labor Day).
The winery encourages guests to also enjoy the scenic beauty surrounding their winery by relaxing with a glass of wine on their outside patio overlooking the vineyards and CordeValle Resort and Golf Course or in the Mulberry Grove. In 2005, the winery installed a regulation sized Bocce Ball Court for visitors to play. Check our What To Do page for more details on our tasting room programs and special events.
ESTATE VINEYARDS: Clos LaChance Winery produces quality and affordable wines from their 150- acre Estate Vineyard located next to the winery facility and Hospitality Center. The vineyard is planted to a diverse collection of varietals that are ideal for the growing conditions. In addition, Clos LaChance manages an additional 80-acres of vineyard surrounding CordeValle Vineyard Estates residential community next to the winery. Both sites possess excellent soils, little precipitation during the growing season and the warm days and cool nights necessary for ripe flavor development and great natural acidity. Through CK Vines, the winery manages and sources grapes from premium backyard vineyards from the Santa Cruz Mountain and Central Coast AVA’s.
WINES: In 2006, Clos LaChance introduced a new three-tier brand architecture that better defines the winery’s focus on estate and vineyard-designated wines. Under this new direction the winery produces wines under three categories, Special Selections Series, Estate Series, and Hummingbird Series. Under these three brands, they will continue to produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Grenache, Merlot and Zinfandel.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Clos LaChance Wines, 1 Hummingbird Lane, San Martin, CA 95046
Phone: (408) 686-1050 or 1-800-ITS-WINE, E-mail: admin@clos.com, Web Site: www.clos.com
Key People
Stephen Tebb
Bill Murphy
Brenda Murphy
Cheryl Murphy Durzy
Kristn Murphy
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Special Offers for ZAP Members |
Tasting Discount: * 15% off Zinfandels.
Wine Purchase Discount at Winery:
* Varies upon event and specials.
Offers ZAP Members Additional Specials
* Varies upon event and specials.
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1 Hummingbird Lane
San Martin, CA 95046
Phone: (800) ITS-WINE
Fax: (408) 686-1052
info@clos.com
www.clos.com
ZAP Member Since: 1999
Winery Founded: 1987
Winery Location Region: Bay Area
Cases Produced: 60000
Winery Open for Tasting: Yes
Winery Charges for Tasting: Yes; $5
Retail Sales at Winery: Yes
Offers Online Sales: Yes
* www.clos.com
Has a Wine Club: Yes
* http://www.closlachance.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category_detail&category_id_int=15121
Offers Winery Tours: By Appt. Only
Offers Vineyard Tours: By Appt. Only
Food Available at Winery: Yes
* We offer light snacks: WinePairables.
Has a Picnic Area: Yes
Offers a Meet the Winemaker Tour: By Appt. Only
Offers a Barrel Tasting: By Appt. Only
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