Hildegard
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, seared scallops
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1982 by the legendary winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is a pioneering estate located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. Situated on the historic Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery is internationally acclaimed for its unwavering commitment to crafting Burgundian-style wines of balance, restraint, and longevity. Utilizing traditional French winemaking techniques, including open-top fermenters, manual punch-downs, and aging in classic Francois Frères French oak barrels, Au Bon Climat produces highly expressive, food-friendly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their signature expressions, such as the Knox Alexander Pinot Noir and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Chardonnay, showcase the unique, cool-climate terroir of California's Central Coast.