Hildegard
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, seared scallops
✨ Technical Specifications
Au Bon Climat's 'Hildegard' is a fascinating liquid history lesson conceived by the late, legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen. This unique white blend is a meticulous recreation of the historic grape varieties planted in Burgundy's famous Corton-Charlemagne vineyard before the phylloxera crisis and subsequent appellation laws mandated near-exclusive plantings of Chardonnay. The wine's name pays homage to Empress Hildegard, wife of Emperor Charlemagne, who famously preferred white wine to prevent red wine stains on her husband's white beard. Sourced primarily from the cool-climate Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, this blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Aligoté is fermented and aged in French oak barrels. The result is a wine of striking complexity, combining the richness of Pinot Gris, the structural elegance of Pinot Blanc, and the vibrant, mineral-driven acidity of Aligoté.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by visionary vintner Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat stands as one of California's most influential pioneers of cool-climate, Burgundian-style winemaking. Situated on the benchlands of the Santa Maria Valley and sourcing from iconic vineyards such as Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict, and the estate Le Bon Climat, the estate thrives within transverse valleys channeled by cold maritime airflow off the Pacific Ocean. Viticulture emphasizes sustainability, with key estate holdings certified organic. In the cellar, the late Clendenen's philosophy lives on through longtime winemaker Jim Adelman alongside Jim's children, Isabelle and Knox Clendenen. Vinification champions classical European restraint: whole-cluster pressing, native and selected yeast fermentations in François Frères French oak barrels, full lees contact, and unhurried elevage without excessive new wood or heavy extraction. Celebrated benchmark whites include the single-vineyard Bien Nacido K Block, Sanford & Benedict, and the flagship Chardonnay Nuits-Blanches Au Bouge, each exemplifying bright minerality, seamless acid architecture, and remarkable cellar longevity.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Aligoté
🍷 ABV
13.5%