The Latest from Au Bon Climat
Harvest came early this year—record-breakingly early—and there’s plenty happening at Au Bon Climat as we head into fall. This September release brings two exciting new additions to our Single Vineyard Series, alongside a closer look at the people, places, and traditions that continue to shape ABC.
Inside this issue:
- Meet Enrique Rodriguez: ABC’s very first employee, now part owner, shares stories from nearly four decades of winemaking alongside Jim Clendenen.
- Two New Single Vineyard wines: Get to know our inaugural 2024 La Encantada Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills and 2024 Spanish Springs Chardonnay from the SLO Coast, both included in this September Club Release.
- Harvest is Here! Winemaker Sarah Atwood takes us behind the scenes of our earliest harvest start in ABC’s 44-year history and shares why we’re so excited about the fruit coming into the winery.
- From our Table to Yours: Savor a handmade gnocchi with kabocha cream sauce recipe, created to pair with the new La Encantada Pinot Noir.
- News from the Tasting Room: A look back at our August Pop-Up Series, a save-the-date heads-up for our November Club Pick-Up Party, and a warm welcome back to Wine Club Manager, Nicole.
And, of course, your September wines are almost here. Below, you’ll find everything included in your upcoming allocation, along with a few specially curated collections available to add to your shipment. It’s an easy opportunity to stock up on old favorites, discover something new, or add a few extra bottles for the season ahead.
september add-on specials
WINE CLUB EXCLUSIVE ADD ONS
Make your September allocation your own with a selection of specially curated add-ons, available exclusively to Wine Club members. Highlights include our first-ever release of the limited-production Cold Heaven Viognier 6-pack, the ever-popular Aligoté, a trio of 2023 Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs, a three-vintage Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay vertical, and one last chance to stock up on our bestselling Summer Essentials 6-Pack.
Act fast: Deadline to add on is September 4th, 4:00pm PST!
LAST CHANCE: SUMMER ESSENTIALS
Our summer bestseller has been extended—just for our members! Add this handpicked collection to your allocation at our best price yet. Made for summer sipping, this 6-pack features 3 refreshing whites and 3 easy-drinking reds, perfect for poolside afternoons, beach days, camping trips, or relaxing evenings on the patio. Stock up while you can and keep summer going!
Regularly $163, SALE $140 + Wine Club Discounts
- One of each: 2023 Grenache Gris, 2024 Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc, 2024 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, 2022 G-15 (Valdiguié), 2020 Grenache, 2024 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
2025 viognier 6-pack
Viognier is back—for one very special vintage. This exceptionally limited release is available to our September Club at special pricing for a 6-pack. Cold Heaven Viognier is Knox’s tribute to his mother and her acclaimed Cold Heaven winery, honoring the family legacy that inspired his journey as a winemaker. Elegant and vibrant, it unfolds with fragrant notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, pear, and citrus, framed by bright acidity, subtle minerality, and a long, refreshing finish.
Regularly $210, SALE $180 + Wine Club Discounts
2025 Aligoté 6-Pack
Our previous vintage sold out faster than expected, so here’s to Aligoté and the 2025 release! With deep roots in Burgundy and a long history at Au Bon Climat, this lesser-known white grape shines with freshness, precision, and quiet complexity. Sourced from Bien Nacido and Orcutt Road and aged in neutral French oak, it offers bright notes of white peach, lemon blossom, apple skin, and clover honey, with crisp acidity and a subtle mineral finish. Specially priced as a 6-pack, so you can make sure you’ve got enough this time!
Regularly $150, SALE $130 + Wine Club Discounts
Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Bundle
The 2023 vintage was exceptional for Pinot Noir, and we’ve brought together three of our favorites in one special collection: Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and Talley. Sourced from historic vineyards across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, this trio showcases the character, elegance, and diversity of the Central Coast. A perfect addition to any Pinot Noir lover’s collection.
Regularly $185, SALE $170 + Wine Club Discounts
- One of each: 2023 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido, 2023 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict, 2023 Pinot Noir Talley
Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay Vertical
A rare opportunity to explore three consecutive vintages of our iconic Nuits-Blanches Chardonnay. First crafted by Jim Clendenen in 1996 to showcase the exceptional quality of Bien Nacido Vineyard, Nuits-Blanches is picked later, sorted more rigorously, and aged longer in barrel than any other Au Bon Climat Chardonnay—resulting in a richer, more structured, oak-driven expression. Experience how the character of each vintage evolves across 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Regularly $150, SALE $130 + Wine Club Discounts
- One of each: 2021, 2022, 2023 Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay
How to add wines to your shipment:
1. Sign into your membership profile–click here
2. Select “Edit Wines” in the upper right corner of your membership profile
3. Choose your desired wines or bundle
4. Click ‘Save Selection’ at the top
5. View total breakdown including shipping discount under ‘TOTAL’
ADD-ON DEADLINE IS september 4th AT 4PM PST
If you would like to add on wines not featured in your club portal, please contact us. Email wineclub@aubonclimat.com or call 805-883-8165.
Included in this Shipment
2024 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay, Los Alamos
A true piece of Au Bon Climat history, the 2024 Los Alamos Vineyard Chardonnay brings together richness, freshness, and mineral-driven precision. Tropical notes of coconut and pineapple mingle with ripe melon, citrus, and subtle French oak spice, while bright acidity and salinity carry the wine to a long, elegant finish.
2024 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay, Spanish Springs
Our first Chardonnay from Spanish Springs Vineyard, just two miles from the Pacific Ocean, captures the site’s unique balance of ripe fruit, bright acidity, and coastal salinity. Aged for 18 months in French oak, the 2024 vintage is supple and beautifully structured, with notes of orange zest, jasmine tea, lemon meringue, and grapefruit custard. Fresh, precise, and distinctly coastal, this Chardonnay is a natural addition to Au Bon Climat’s collection of vineyard-designated wines.
2025 Au Bon Climat Aligoté
The 2025 Au Bon Climat Aligoté is a rare single-varietal bottling inspired by Burgundy’s historic white grapes. Bright, focused, and mineral-driven, this vintage opens with white peach, lemon blossom, and clover honey, followed by fresh acidity, apple skin, and a crisp, palate-refreshing finish.
2023 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Kick On
Kick On Ranch lies in the gentle hills of Los Alamos Valley, where ocean fog, coastal winds, and rare eolian sand soils create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s cool-climate influence yields wines with striking freshness and depth, balancing vibrant fruit with savory complexity. Aromas of redcurrant, pomegranate, and blood orange mingle with notes of fennel and lavender, while the palate reveals cranberry, spiced plum, and crushed stone. Expressive and beautifully layered, it captures the singular character of Los Alamos Valley.
2021 Clendenen Family Vineyards Grenache Rancho La Cuna
The Grenache from Rancho La Cuna captures the distinctive character of the Los Alamos Valley, balancing generous fruit with savory complexity, structure, and finesse. Layers of ripe berry, warm spice, and earthy nuance unfold on the palate, making this a beautifully expressive Grenache with both immediate appeal and the structure to age gracefully.
2021 Clendenen Family Vineyards Syrah/Viognier
A wine of intrigue and elegance as eucalyptus, pomegranate, coffee, and ginger culminate in a captivating aromatic experience. With a round structure accented by oak influences, plum sauce and white pepper flavors linger through the finish. Co-fermented Syrah and Viognier grapes, aged in new Hungarian oak puncheons, offer complexity and supple balance, making this wine a true embodiment of Rhône-inspired finesse.
2024 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir La Encantada
This Pinot Noir captures the cool maritime influence and distinctive diatomaceous soils of the Sta. Rita Hills, balancing dark fruit, savory herbs, green tea, and mineral-driven salinity with vibrant freshness. Aged for 18 months in French oak, it is an elegant yet brooding expression of this distinctive Santa Barbara County vineyard.
Tasting Room Updates + NICOLE IS BACK
Summer has been in full swing at the Tasting Room, and we just wrapped up our August Pop-Up Series. What a fun month it was! We welcomed four amazing local food vendors to our patio, featuring everything from Thai street food and fresh oysters to BBQ and delicious sandwiches. A huge thank you to all of our vendors and to everyone who came out to support these local collaborations. We loved seeing the patio filled with great food, great wine, and great company.
We’re taking a little break from events in September, but don’t worry, the last few months of the year are going to be full of exciting happenings. Club Members, mark your calendars for your next Wine Club Pick-Up Party in November! We’ll be bringing back a favorite with live paella cooking, plenty of wine, and a fun afternoon together. Stay tuned, we’ll share the official date soon!
We also have some wonderful news: our Wine Club Manager, Nicole, is back from maternity leave! We’re so happy to have her back and excited to have her rejoin the team. While Nicole was away, she welcomed her second child, Sigourney Jude, and somehow also found time to add two adorable rescue kittens to the family. After many months of keeping things running, Wiktoria is looking forward to taking a well-deserved vacation and a little time to recharge.
Thank you all for your support and patience during this busy season, and welcome back, Nicole, we missed you!
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