Clos is a French term that refers to a vineyard enclosed by stone walls. It is believed they were first built in Burgundy by the Cistercian monks around the 11th century to separate vineyard land and protect from theft.
The most famous clos erected by the Cistercian is the Clos de Vougeot. Nowadays, there are around 85 owners of this famous Grand Cru vineyard. One of them is Olivier Bernstein, who makes a powerful Pinot Noir from a small plot of 80-year-old vines right in the middle of the clos.
The term has been added to name brands around the world, even if their vineyards are not enclosed. For example, Clos Pegase produces wine from their three estate vineyards in Napa Valley, California where they plant 11 different grape varieties. Imagine building a stone wall for their 410 acres of land!
Author: Maytte Rivera
