Story
Clos Saron
Sierra Foothills · California · USA
Gideon Beinstock and Saron Rice founded Clos Saron in 1999, building on their earlier experiences at the Fellowship of Friends in Oregon House, California. The Fellowship, which began in Berkeley in the late 1960s, was a global spiritual movement that incorporated viticulture among its cultural activities.
“Gideon, originally a painter, eventually managed the Fellowship's winery, Renaissance, producing notable wines in the early 1990s.”
As the Fellowship declined in the late 1990s, Gideon and Saron shifted their focus to a nearby property, initially assisting with a small vineyard and later expanding it to six acres. They transitioned from Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Noir, implementing organic farming practices. Their approach emphasises allowing the vineyard to express itself without chemical interference, using minimal sulphur during winemaking to preserve the wine's natural character.
