When Clos du Bois was founded in 1974, Sonoma County was better known for its prunes, walnuts and dairy farms than for its wine grapes. Because the county had more soil types than France, founder Frank Woods recognized its potential as a world-class wine growing region, and it is here in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley where Clos du Bois has been making outstanding wines for more than three decades. Woods’ vision was to marry the best of California wines, which were rich, fruit forward and robust, with the best of French wines, which had an undeniable elegance. With a focus on sourcing the best quality grapes from Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and the surrounding North Coast, the resulting collection of wines highlights the best of Sonoma County in a style that is both elegant and approachable – the signature of Clos du Bois.
Marvin Sands founded Constellation Brands in 1945 as a small, family-owned wine company in Canandaigua, New York. Constellation Brands is the world’s leading premium wine company, with a widely admired portfolio that includes Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Blackstone, Estancia, Ravenswood, Jackson Triggs and Arbor Mist.