Shannon
From 32 to 800 hectares in 30 years - that's how real Americans scale.
Clay Shannon is a Californian wine pioneer who has been cultivating high-altitude vineyards in Lake County since 1996. Family-run, having grown from 32 to around 800 hectares, the winery produces characterful and sustainable wines.
“We make wines the right way. Not the easy way,” said the large-estate winemaker in a cowboy hat. It was true.
Clay Shannon founded his own winery in 1996 in Lake County, California, in the mountains above Clear Lake, north of Napa Valley. From an initial 80 acres (32 hectares), it grew into a family winery with over 2,000 acres (around 800 hectares) of land, about half of which is deliberately preserved as untouched natural areas.
Clay manages the estate together with his wife Angie, and their daughter Brooke is also heavily involved in the business. As a former vineyard manager and an outsider without a large inheritance, he worked his way up from the bottom. His credo is to produce great grapes while preserving the landscape for future generations: "We make wines the right way. Not the easy way." To achieve this, he consciously and actively accepts revenue losses to actively combat climate change and inspire others with his mission.
Today, Clay Shannon is one of the largest winegrowers in Lake County. The focus is primarily on structured mountain red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah, as well as Sauvignon Blanc. Additionally, the winery works with heat and drought-resistant grape varieties to meet the challenges of climate change. The wines clearly bear the signature of their terroir – powerful, honest, and with an independent character.
Sustainability by conviction.
The winery consistently employs regenerative methods in the OVIS project. Sheep handle natural greening, artificial fertilizers and herbicides are avoided, and compost and biodiversity are central. Half of all areas remain wild to maintain ecological cycles. Water consumption is drastically reduced, and the vine rows are more densely and wildly greened. Sustainability here is not a trend, but a lived reality.
Honest and down-to-earth.
Clay Shannon does not come from a large winemaking family. He acquired his knowledge in the vineyard and focuses on clear, unadulterated wines without cosmetic intervention. The style is direct, structured, and free of showmanship. What's in the glass comes from the vineyard, not the lab.
Community involvement.
The winery is deeply rooted in the Lake County region. It creates jobs, supports local initiatives, and is committed to social projects. Education, youth development, and the preservation of the rural community are integral parts of its philosophy. Through festivals and events revolving around the winemaking year and traditional sheep shearing, it shares its passion with the public.
"Sustainability isn't some philosophical concept; it's the way we live our lives at Shannon Family of Wines."
Lake County, California.
Weine des Weinguts
Cabernet Sauvignon
2023
Zinfandel
2022
