Runway Vineyard Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted chicken, pan-seared scallops, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.