Runway Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted chicken, pan-seared scallops, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Tucked alongside the legendary Bien Nacido Vineyard on the wind-swept bench of the Santa Maria Valley lies Runway Vineyard, a site that benefits from the same maritime influence and sandy loam soils. Au Bon Climat's Runway Vineyard Chardonnay is a testament to the late Jim Clendenen's vision of crafting California wines with Burgundian soul. Planted in close proximity to the Santa Maria Airport, this cool-climate site experiences dramatic diurnal temperature swings and persistent morning fog. The wine is crafted using traditional methods: barrel fermentation in French oak barrels followed by aging on the lees. The result is a Chardonnay of remarkable tension, balancing bright citrus and stone fruit flavors with a distinct saline minerality and a textured, creamy finish.
🍾 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
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5%