Laurie Jervis: Miller Family Wine Co. Launches New Brand Sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard
Santa Barbara Vintners postpones its annual festival until 2022, and a local wine industry book is now available in e-book form
Miller Family Wines has launched a new brand, optik, featuring pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah from the family’s revered Bien Nacido Vineyard. Joey Tensely is the winemaker. (Miller Family Wines photo) By Laurie Jervis, Noozhawk Columnist | @NoozhawkNews
May 22, 2021
| 5:11 p.m.
Bien Nacido Vineyard, planted in 1973 by brothers Bob and Steve Miller, is one of California’s most iconic vineyard sites, long praised for producing exceptional wines that epitomize the distinct characteristics of the Santa Maria Valley AVA. Looking to honor this heritage, the Miller family teamed with Tensley to create optik, designed to showcase a fresh take on Bien Nacido Vineyard.
Jim Clendenen / Photo by Kirk Irwin
In an industry loaded with gregarious personalities, winemaker Jim Clendenen, who died on May 15 at 68 years old, was cut from even more colorful cloth.
With a flowing mane of wild hair, intense eyes and fierce confidence, Clendenen, the owner of Au Bon Climat winery, spent his entire career promoting the wines of Santa Barbara County around the world. He proved that Pinot Noir and Chardonnay could be made in a leaner, Burgundian style despite abundant California sunshine, and mentored generations of winemakers-to-be.
He’s also remembered as a great father to his two children, a dear friend to dozens and a bon vivant who cooked and hosted long, leisurely lunches at his Santa Maria Valley winery whenever he wasn’t on the road.
Jim Clendenen, Santa Barbara Winemaking Pioneer, Dies at 68
With exuberant charisma and relentless traveling, he promoted his label, Au Bon Climat, and the region as a wine hub.
Jim Clendenen in 2009 at his winery, Au Bon Climat. He had a striking leonine mane of hair well after long hair had gone out of fashion and a goatee long before goatees came back in style. His wines were similarly distinctive but never trendy.Credit.Monica Almeida/The New York Times
May 19, 2021Updated 2:57 p.m. ET
Jim Clendenen, a larger than life, globe-trotting winemaker who through the force of his flamboyant personality and the understated beauty of his wines helped put the Santa Barbara region on the map, died on Saturday at his home in Buellton, Calif. He was 68.
The Au Bon Climat Winery founder was a father, mentor and friend to thousands worldwide
Jim Clendenen, left, and Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit SYV, pose for a photo at a wine event in 2017. (Shelby Sim photo) By Laurie Jervis, Noozhawk Columnist | @NoozhawkNews
May 18, 2021
| 11:14 a.m.
The global wine industry lost a pioneering winemaker with the sudden death of Jim Clendenen, founder of Santa Barbara County’s Au Bon Climat Winery. The Los Alamos resident was just 68 and died in his sleep on Saturday.
News of his death traveled like lightning across social media starting Sunday evening and continues as the legendary Clendenen’s family, friends, colleagues and longtime Santa Maria cellar crew struggle with and grieve his passing.
From his Santa Maria Valley winery, Clendenen helped raise the quality of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Au Bon Climate co-founder and winemaker Jim Clendenen was honored at chef Emeril Lagasse s Carnivale du Vin charity event. (Steven Freeman) By May 17, 2021
Jim Clendenen, who brought a love of Burgundy to his groundbreaking Santa Barbara winery Au Bon Climat and helped put the region on the world winemaking stage, died in his sleep the night of May 15 at his home in the Los Alamos district near the town of Buellton, Calif. He was 68.
Clendenen was a tireless proponent and guiding light for Santa Barbara wines from his base in the cool-climate Santa Maria Valley in the northern reaches of the county. His Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from a variety of vineyar