Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Lee.
Hi Adam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into wine began in Austin, Texas, far from California’s vineyards. I was adopted and raised by Southern Baptist parents, but I was especially close to my grandmother, Clarice—my earliest confidante and the person who shaped my sense of curiosity, generosity, and possibility. Although she never left Texas, we would sit on her porch swing and imagine traveling the world together.
I studied French history at Trinity University in San Antonio, focusing on the French and American prison systems. A summer trip to Sonoma County, however, sparked an unexpected fascination with wine. After college, I joined Austin Wine & Spirits, eventually becoming president of the three-store chain, and later worked as a wine buyer for Neiman Marcus in Dallas.
In 1993, Dianna Novy and I moved to California to make Pinot Noir. With $24,000, we produced 107 cases from the 1994 vintage. On a whim, we delivered a barrel sample to Robert Parker, who named it one of California’s Top 10 Pinot Noirs of the year. Siduri Wines was born.
Over the next two decades, Siduri grew to more than 30,000 cases, producing acclaimed Pinot Noir from Oregon to Santa Barbara County. I became known as one of California’s leading Pinot Noir specialists before we sold Siduri to Jackson Family Wines in 2015.
In 2017, I founded Clarice Wine Company, named for my grandmother. Focused exclusively on the Santa Lucia Highlands, Clarice produces small quantities of distinctive Pinot Noir using extensive whole clusters, native fermentation, and minimal intervention.
I later partnered with renowned Rhône winemaker Philippe Cambie to create Beau Marchais. Today, I make or consult on wines for several producers, including Bucher, Rombauer, and Roar.
Most importantly, I am the father of Christian, Amber, and Truett. In 2025, I married winemaker Morét Brealynn Chavez. My family remains one of the few things I love even more than Pinot Noir.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been incredibly fortunate in my life and have very few complaints about the road I’ve travelled on, even when it has been rough.
From a purely business perspective, the biggest challenge has always been cash flow. Every winery that I’ve started has been, on paper, profitable in every single vintage. But growing a business requires a great deal of available cash and that can be difficult. I’ve found that taking a break from growth every 4 years or so can help with this challenge.
More personally, one of my biggest challenges has been to reconcile the persona that is necessary to sell wine on the road with the person I consider myself to be when I am home alone. It has taken me some time – and a good bit of therapy – to realize that they are both me. I continue to work to bring them slightly closer together as one person.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In answering this question, I first had to choose whether or not I was an artist, a businessman, or an employee. The answer truly is that I am all three.
As a winemaker, I work for the grapes and the wine. For several months a year, my life is not my own. My schedule changes almost daily, based on the weather and how the grapes interact with it.
I’ve always been a fan of the Jay-Z quote, “I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man.” Being a business is what has allowed people to get to know me. The idea of a starving artist is deeply romantic, but there are perhaps millions of them that nobody knows about. Being a success business is necessary if you want to bring your craft to people.
But deep down, what people are most interested in – and what truly drives me is make wine – specifically Pinot Noir. I am not entirely certain if that makes me a craftsperson or an artist, perhaps a bit of both. There’s something deeply rewarding about actually creating something – taking grapes and turning them into wine. Arguably, it’s a simple exercise – grapes juice naturally turns into wine, but it then naturally turns into vinegar. As winemakers we are asked to shepherd that first transformation and prevent the second. And we are asked to do so in a way that expresses the uniqueness of place and vintage in every bottling. It’s a lifetime of creative work, that changes from year to year. I absolutely love it.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My childhood was pretty idyllic. Being an only adopted child to two older parents who thought they’d never have a child meant that I was pretty spoiled. I have a picture of my father and mother at a church meeting and they are holding hands. My Dad is looking forward to the meeting while my Mom is looking at my Dad, and there’s this most incredible look of love in her eyes. I was once told that everyone should be so lucky to have someone look at them like that.
I grew up in that environment – and now I have that with Morét. I am indeed very fortunate.
Pricing:
- Dial Tone Pinot Noir $29
- Clarice Wine Company Pinot Noirs $98
- Etienne Lirac Wines $39-$72
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adamleewine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamhowardlee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClariceWineCompany
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-lee-38215b140/
