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
Founded in 1982 by the visionary late winemaker Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach, Au Bon Climat is situated in the cool-climate expanse of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Operating out of the acclaimed Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery forged an international reputation by championing restraint, balance, and classical Burgundian traditions long before cool-climate California viticulture entered the mainstream. Driven by early harvesting, indigenous fermentations, and meticulous French oak aging, Au Bon Climat crafts structured, age-worthy wines distinguished by high natural acidity and moderate alcohol levels. The estate is celebrated globally for its expressive site-specific and reserve bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including iconic signature labels such as Knox Alexander, Isabelle, and Nuits-Blanches au Bouge.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Aligoté
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5%