Au Bon Climat
Central Coast’s balance of old and new
Au Bon Climat was founded by the late Jim Clendenen in 1982, a time when much of the Californian wine focus was on Napa and Sonoma. Having spent time in Burgundy, Clendenen, affectionately known as the ‘Wild Boy’, was convinced of the potential of the cool Central Coast to produce great wines from Burgundian varieties. Clendenen sadly died in 2021, but Au Bon Climat continues to produce hugely popular Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from a variety of Central Coast sites, primarily in Santa Barbara County.
Most of Au Bon Climat’s grapes are sourced from the prized Bien Nacido and Le Bon Climat vineyards. Bien Nacido is an historic, ocean-influenced vineyard lying next to the Au Bon Climat winery in the Santa Maria Valley. Le Bon Climat is a site at a similar distance from the Pacific, planted on the southern edge of the Santa Maria Valley and originally owned by Clendenen himself. Other iconic locations include Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in Sta Rita Hills and Los Alamos Vineyard in Santa Barbara County.
From the most accessible Classics series to the long-aged Blue series, the wines of ABC seem to find a perfect balance between Old World restraint and New World approachability.
