Beringer Poised to Buy St. Clement Vineyards

Jeff Morgan
Posted: August 3, 1999

Beringer Wine Estates may be adding yet another name to its growing collection of California wineries. According to an anonymous source at St. Clement Vineyards in Napa Valley, several St. Clement employees were told last Friday that Beringer is acquiring the winery.

Neither party would confirm the deal. On Monday, St. Clement administrator Mary Beardsley said, "Nothing is definite yet."

Beringer's vice president of winery communications, Tor Kenward, offered a similarly noncommittal statement. "We're looking at this as we're looking at any number of possible acquisitions," he said.

St. Clement was founded in 1975 by eye surgeon William Casey. Best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, the winery and its 20 acres of vineyards were purchased by Sapporo USA in 1987 and have been operated by the Japanese-owned company since then.

Beringer Wine Estates owns some 10,500 acres of vineyards in California. In addition to Beringer Vineyards in Napa Valley, the publicly held company owns Stags' Leap Winery in Napa Valley, Meridian Vineyards in Paso Robles, Chateau Souverain and Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma County, and the Napa Ridge brand.

For recent ratings of St. Clement and Beringer wines, check the Wine Search.

Recent news on Beringer:

March 5, 1999
Beringer Expands Its California Vineyard Holdings

For more on St. Clement:

March 26, 1999
St. Clement Winemaker Dennis Johns Quits