ounded in 1972 by John Goelet and French winemaker Bernard Portet, Clos du Val quickly earned global acclaim when its debut Cabernet Sauvignon competed in the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris. Located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, the winery was established with a vision to craft Bordeaux-style wines in California’s cooler microclimates. Portet selected the site for its evening temperature drops, ideal for preserving freshness and balance. Today, Clos du Val remains family-owned, farming estate vineyards in both Stags Leap and Yountville.