About Clos du Bois
Frank Woods, a Tennessee-born Army veteran and marketing whiz who promoted products like Tiger's Milk at Procter & Gamble before falling for wine, founded Clos du Bois in 1974 with partner Tom Reed, a former Secretary of the Air Force, on Alexander Valley vineyard land they had been farming. The fancy French name is a family joke of sorts: Woods's children chose "Clos du Bois," French for "enclosed vineyard of the woods," a play on their father's surname.
Woods brought genuine marketing genius to a sleepy industry, introducing Sonoma's first Bordeaux-style red blend in 1978 with Marlstone, championing appellation labeling, and landing the winery on Wine Spectator's cover as "California's Best Kept Secret" in 1986 before selling to Hiram Walker in 1988. After passing through Constellation Brands, the label joined E. & J. Gallo in 2021; the historic Geyserville winery has since been mothballed, but the widely distributed brand continues, even serving as official wine of the US Open tennis tournament.
Marketing genius Frank Woods's 1974 Alexander Valley winery, named as a French pun on his surname, that pioneered Sonoma's Bordeaux-style blends.
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A French pun on the founder's name,Woods's children chose Clos du Bois, "enclosed vineyard of the woods," turning their father's surname into one of wine's most elegant-sounding labels.
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Sonoma's first Bordeaux-style blend,the winery's 1978 Marlstone introduced the Bordeaux blend concept to Sonoma County, while Woods championed appellation labeling industry-wide.
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A brand that outlived its winery,after the 2021 Gallo acquisition the Geyserville facility was mothballed, but the label lives on, even pouring as the US Open's official wine.
"Marketing genius Frank Woods's 1974 Alexander Valley winery, named as a French pun on his surname, that pioneered Sonoma's Bordeaux-style blends."
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Featured Wines
Current Releases
Wines change with each vintage
For an accurate list of current-release wines and library bottlings from Clos du Bois Winery, please check the winery's official website or contact the tasting room directly. Alexander Valley producers typically rotate vintages and offerings seasonally.
Tasting Experiences
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Clos du Bois Geyserville Walk-In
Taste the wines at Clos du Bois Winery in the Alexander Valley. Daily 10am to 4:30pm, walk-ins welcome.
From $20
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