Clos LaChance Winery

In 1987, co-owners Bill and Brenda Murphy decided to plant a few rows of Chardonnay in their Saratoga backyard, both for landscaping purposes and to realize their dreams of being small-scale vintners. A few years later, the wines produced from this small backyard vineyard were good enough to sell to the public. It was at this point that Clos LaChance formed into a commercial winery. The first released wines were from the 1992 vintage. The next 15 years would take the Murphy’s from 200 cases of wine produced to 80,000; 3/4 of an acre to 150 acres planted and 20 full-time and 25 seasonal employees.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 (LaChance). 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.Together with their daughters, Bill and Brenda have created a multi-generational, family-owned and operated winery. It is their dream that the third generation will eventually take over the business.