Clos du Val Winery

Napa Valley winery on the Silverado Trail in the Stag’s Leap District

Back in 1970, American businessman John Goelet hired a 26-year-old Frenchman named Bernard Portet to scour the world for a location to grow the Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Five continents and two years later, Portet settled on Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, and Clos du Val—which means “small vineyard estate in a valley”—was born.

The first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1972 was one of only six California Cabernets selected for the now-legendary 1976 Paris Tasting, in which French judges doing a blind tasting rated California wines the best in each category (Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon). Their decision rocked the world of wine.

Clos du Val’s beautifully-manicured grounds and grand old trees are a pleasure to encounter. The large and friendly tasting room—in a lovely, vine-covered building—is a great place to explore these award-winning wines. You’ll also find a particularly nice selection of wine and gift items for sale.

Fascinating Fact:

Clos du Val wines have “starred” in many television shows, including The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The L Word, Doc, and Six Feet Under.

Amenities: Winery tours, by appointment. Wine Club. Pétanque courts. Picnic area (reservations recommended for groups of 8 or more). Gift shop.
Founded: 1972
Signature Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Ariadne
Wine Tasting: Basic, no appointment necessary
Hours: Daily, 10-5

Clos du Val Winery
5330 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA 94558
707-259-2200

email: cdv@closduval.com
website: www.closduval.com

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Suzie Rodriguez writes about travel, food, and wine from her home in the wine-country town of Sonoma, California. You can follow her travels and musings at The Culinary Gadabout.

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