The winery has cultivated an international reputation for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are classically styled wines of balance, restraint and longevity. Jim Clendenen is recognized as one of the lions of the wine industry, as both an enthusiastic ambassador and as a guiding light for the Santa Barbara County wine region. He was essential in elevating Burgundian varietals on the Central Coast early on and continued to be a driving force throughout his life. Accolades abound including being on Robert Parker’s short list of Best Wineries in the World and Jim being an inductee of the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.

Yet, Jim did not rest on his laurels. He continually looked to fine tune his craft and consequently led the pack. Articulate, knowledgeable, well-travelled, passionate, and uncensored with a biting humour, Jim Clendenen was an icon that wine cognoscenti gravitated to. On 16th May 2021 Jim passed away in his sleep. The void Jim left is huge, but his legacy continues. Jim had in place for many years a top-notch winemaking team headed by Jim Adelman, who has been overseeing the winemaking at Au Bon Climat for over 30 years. The rest of the winemaking team have also been there for decades. In addition, Jim’s children, Isabelle and Knox Clendenen, are gearing up to take the reins and move forward.