From the beginning in 1982, Au Bon Climat has been devoted to crafting world class, Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. The convergence of brisk Pacific air, marine based soils, and the area’s rare east west valleys create an ideal “Au Bon Climat,” the French idiom for “a good place.”
Au Bon Climat is more than a winery; it is a philosophy. By marrying Old World traditions with the promise of a New World region, the wines bear a signature of their own while reflecting restraint and harmony. Barrel fermentation, whole cluster pressing, lees aging, and extended time in François Frères barrels remain the hallmarks of our style. These are not showy wines, but layered, structured, and timeless.
Over four decades later, Au Bon Climat is recognized internationally for wines of balance, elegance, and longevity. Founder Jim Clendenen, affectionately known as “The Mind Behind,” set forth a vision of integrity and stayed unwaveringly true to it. Though Jim passed away in 2021, his legacy lives on through the dedicated winery team that worked alongside him for decades and continues to uphold his manifesto. His children, Isabelle and Knox, now carry that legacy forward: Isabelle in marketing and Knox in the cellar beginning with the 2022 harvest. Both also have acclaimed Pinot Noirs named in their honor, with the first vintages released in the years of their birth- Isabelle in 1995 and Knox Alexander in 1999.
Our tasting room, located in the historic Presidio neighborhood at 813 Anacapa Street, Suite B, offers both current releases and an extensive library collection from Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards. Guests can explore more than 100 wines, with a focus on our celebrated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, alongside distinctive bottlings of Aligoté, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Nebbiolo, and Valdiguié.
The Au Bon Climat family, built by Jim and sustained by his team and children, continues to honor the past while embracing the future, sharing wines that embody tradition, place, and vision.