Gavin Chanin
JIM CLENDENEN REMEMBERED
JIM CLENDENEN Mind Behind AU BON CLIMAT Gone too soon, Jim Clendenen, aka Mind Behind, just passed away. Jim was an iconic legend in so many ways. He founded Au Bon Climat in 1982 which was one of the very early wineries in Santa Barbara County. He began his career working at Zaca […]
Click here to read entire article »CHANIN WINE COMPANY
It was in 2011 when I first visited Gavin Chanin who had just launched his own winery after an apprenticeship at Au Bon Climat and Qupé with Jim Clendenen and Bob Lindquist (to read that article click here). Gavin could not have had better mentors. I have known Jim since before he launched Au Bon […]
Click here to read entire article »CHANIN WINE COMPANY AND LUTUM WINES – AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF 2014 CHARDONNAYS AND PINOT NOIRS
INTRODUCTION Gavin Chanin began his wine career at Au Bon Climat and then started Chanin Wine Company in 2007. In 2011 an association was formed with Bill Price to make wines under the Lutum label (Lutum is Latin for soil or dirt). All of the wines are now made at the winery in Lompoc. […]
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Background and History In 2011 I first tasted Chanin Wine Company wines from 2008 and 2009 as well as some barrel samples of 2010s. In September 2011, my first article on Chanin Wine Company also featured Au Bon Climat and Qupé and was entitled The Holy Trinity of Wineries (to read the article click […]
Click here to read entire article »TYLER WINERY AND CHANIN WINE COMPANY
Two Outstanding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Producers For the past several years I have written about these two relatively new wineries that are driven by young men, Justin Willett and Gavin Chanin, who have a passion to make wines that are balanced and made in a very natural way. These are wines that show beautifully […]
Click here to read entire article »UNDER THE RADAR & VALUE PRICED ROSÉS AND WHITE WINES
My last Distinctive New Wines article featured rosé and white wines (to read that article click here). As the end of summer approaches, here are more rosé and white wine selections that are perfect for warm weather drinking. There are many Under The Radar wines and many terrific values. There are also rare wines and […]
Click here to read entire article »IN PURSUIT OF BALANCE: A TRADE TASTING AND MORE
WITH VIEWS OF CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY AND CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIR FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES – IN PURSUIT OF BALANCE AND THE UNDERGROUND Introduction This was the second annual In Pursuit of Balance event which was conceived by Rajat Parr of Michael Mina and Sandhi Wines and Jasmine Hirsch of Hirsch Vineyards. The goal was […]
Click here to read entire article »THE HOLY TRINITY OF WINERIES
THE HOLY TRINITY OF WINERIES INTRODUCTION These three wineries are housed in one facility in Santa Maria. Au Bon Climat Winery (which means “a well exposed vineyard”) was founded in 1982 by Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach. Qupé Winery was also started in 1982 by Bob Lindquist. Chanin Wine Company was started in 2007 by […]
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