We are thrilled to host this At Home Session with James Beard Award-winning winemaker Jim Clendenen. A fierce advocate for the terroirs of Central Coast California, Jim focuses on Burgundian varieties at his winery Au Bon Climat and experiments with a number of other varieties at his passion project Clendenen Family Vineyards.
Jim graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with high honors in pre-law in 1976. After graduation, a one month stay in both Burgundy and Champagne convinced him to attempt a career in wine rather than continue on to law school.
Beginning with the 1978 harvest, Jim was assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery for three vintages, a valued training experience. In 1981 his vision broadened with three harvests in one year as Jim worked crush and directed the harvest at wineries in Australia and France.
In 1982, Jim decided, along with Adam Tolmach, to start a winery dedicated to Burgundian varieties in leased quarters. Adam left in 1990 to pursue his own efforts, leaving Jim solo at the winery.
The winery has cultivated an international reputation for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Jim is recognized worldwide for his classically styled wines.
Jim's work as a winemaker was recognized by numerous awards. In 1989 and 1990 Au Bon Climat was on Robert Parker's shortlist of "Best Wineries in the World", and in 1991 was selected by Oz Clark as one of fifty world-wide creators of "Modern Classic Wines". Dan Berger of the Los Angeles Times named Jim the "Los Angeles Times Winemaker of the Year" in 1992; Food & Wine magazine named him "Winemaker of the Year" in 2001. Germany's leading wine magazine, Wein Gourmet, in 2004 named Jim “Winemaker of the World” and in 2007, Jim was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.”