Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat is known for its refined wines from Santa Barbara County.

The history of Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat was founded in 1982 with a clear mission: to produce classic, Burgundy-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. The region is ideal thanks to the influence of the cool Pacific air, marine soils, and the east–west oriented valleys.

Jim Clendenen, also known as “The Mind Behind” Au Bon Climat, set this vision and always stayed true to it. While trends in California came and went, Au Bon Climat continued to focus on traditional, site-specific, and nuanced wines.

Location and climate of Santa Barbara County

The location of Santa Barbara County creates a unique microclimate with a combination of warm days and cool nights. This allows grapes to ripen slowly and develop deep, complex flavors. Vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Le Bon Climat, and Rancho La Cuna are among the most renowned in the region.

The different wines of Au Bon Climat

The winery has gained international fame with its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. By combining traditional methods such as whole cluster pressing, aging in French oak barrels, and extended barrel maturation, the wines achieve exceptional balance and elegance.

The vineyards of Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat sources grapes from several prestigious vineyards, including:

• Bien Nacido Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley): 900 acres, calcareous clay soil, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
• Le Bon Climat Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley): 52 acres, sandy loam soil, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier.
• Rancho La Cuna (Santa Barbara County): 20 acres, sandy loam and shale clay, Syrah, Grenache, Chenin Blanc.
• Sanford & Benedict (Sta. Rita Hills): 51 acres, calcareous clay soil, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
• Talley Vineyards (Arroyo Grande Valley): 28 acres, shale clay soil, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Why choose wines from Au Bon Climat?

These wines are praised worldwide for their balance, structure, and long aging potential. Jim Clendenen’s legacy lives on through the high quality and dedication to traditional winemaking techniques.

Order Au Bon Climat wines online?

You can of course buy Au Bon Climat wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine merchant with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium. Our wines are stored in a climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and when you choose to pick up your order, you often receive a nice discount. The discount is shown immediately when you select ‘Pick up’ on the checkout page.