When founder Frank Woods was deciding on a name for his new winery, his children, who were studying French at the time, recommended Clos Du Bois, which loosely translates to “enclosure in the woods.” All are thankful with this bit of inspiration, as we might have ended up instead with the founder’s not-very-innovative designation of Woods Vineyard.

Clos Du Bois has gone on to great success, producing prodigious amounts of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Tempranillo and their flagship
wine -- Merlot. Many limited-release wines are available only in the tasting room, including some of their Bordeaux blends.

The facility, in the heart of the Alexander Valley, is an impressive group of buildings in a “campus environment,” with picnic tables located in the lawn areas. The tasting room has a modern barn-like design, with a bright and airy interior, wood accents and a tall ceiling. The “U”-shaped tasting bar has a stainless-steel-topped tasting counter and a friendly staff to pour and describe the wines. A high-quality gift shop has a number of unique items, wine accessories, wine and cookbooks.

The winery farms more than 900 acres in the renowned Alexander Valley and sources fruit from selected, independent growers in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Carneros and Knights Valley regions, as well as from the Monterey Appellation. The winery has three different lines of wines including their well-valued Classic Series, the Appellation Reserve, and their Proprietary Series, where you can find their best varietal and Bordeaux blends.