Au Bon Climat

This place is an institution and I'm so glad we were able to do a tasting here on a recent Santa Barbara visit. We were here on a weekday so we were able to just walk in, but they are probably quite busy on weekends. They work with some more unusual varieties and I also liked that you can buy their library wines. Great, complex and interesting wines. There was just one server but she was very knowledgeable and attentive despite tending to multiple tables.

A wonderful tasting room toward the beach end of Santa Barbara that really showcased some of their more recent vintages across a number of varietals. We decided to opt for their library selections, which also included a small charcuterie board, which paired nicely with the wine we had. We were also fortunate to have Wiktoria leading us in our tasting, and she proved to be personable and knowledgeable, and amazing combo!

As lovers of Wildboy it was a privilege to have a tasting at ABC - especially as I had no idea Wildboy was a UK only exclusive, making me appreciate ABC all the more! Fans was the BEST guide - my partner only drinks white wine and so he amended the flight for him, and let us try some brilliant wines. A really special afternoon in SB - thanks Fabs!

The staff was very friendly and patient! The wine tasting is a must try. They also offer shipping to East Coast.

I recently visited Au Bon Climat for a wine tasting, and it was an absolutely outstanding experience. The diversity of wines they offer is impressive, showcasing an incredible selection of Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from various vintages, along with other fun and approachable varietals. Their library of wines speaks to a deep dedication to crafting Burgundian-style wines that truly stand out for their complexity, elegance, and balance. What truly made this visit unforgettable was the staff. They weren’t just knowledgeable—they were passionate and approachable, creating an atmosphere that felt both informative and inviting. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just starting to explore, they make you feel at home while sharing their expertise. If you’re a fan of French-inspired wines or simply want to enjoy an exceptional tasting experience, I can’t recommend Au Bon Climat enough. It’s a true gem for lovers of fine wine, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Our tasting was fantastic! Miya was an excellent host and very knowledgeable about the wines. She had a great personality and created a great experience for our (sometimes unruly) large group. Will definitely come back next time we're in Santa Barbara, especially now that we're members. Highly recommend!

Great experience excellent wines staff is on point

One of my favorites stops for wine tasting in Santa Barbara! If you are a Pinot lover this is a must for you - great nose, all kinds of flavors, and soft finish. They also have some really nice whites, red blends, and good price points for wines that are ready to drink. Lots of history here for the region and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I always enjoy my time here.

Great place. Delicious Pinot and Chardonnay. Fayz helped us and was extremely friendly and passionate about the wine. A must if visiting Santa Barbara and you enjoy good wine!

I've come here multiple times in the past with both parents and friends because we really enjoy their selection of pinots, especially 'a party upstairs'. On 3/1/25 we came (party of 6) for a glass after lunch around 3pm. There was only one other group of 2 people in the whole establishment. As we walked in, before we could even all enter the worker told us "So actually you need a reservation for parties greater than 6 and its an automatic service charge of 20%." So as we stood there, he didn't make it clear whether or not he's serve us and it was overall very awkward. Not as welcoming as our past experiences and we felt like he did not want us to be there. Very disappointed.

Excellent wines! Stopped in at the tasting room after our visit to Lotusland. My friend had a glass of wine while I did a tasting. I really enjoyed their Pinot noir and Chardonnay the most and bought bottles to take home.

Did the wine tasting and tried some delicious Pinot. A very relaxing environment to sip some wine and the service was friendly.

Friendly, informative, and passionate staff with an outstanding selection of wines. I did both tasting menus and every pour was a delight.

It was a busy Saturday afternoon when we popped in to check out this tasting room in the Presidio Neighborhood. They specialize in Pinot Noirs. Our favorite of the flight was the Runway Pinot Noir. We also purchased their Chardonnay and the Rose. The Rose is was qui refreshing! Despite being so busy, the staff was friendly and efficient as well as accommodating. When I asked about trying the Rose, they gladly opened a bottle for us. The tasting room was lively and can accommodate a large group.

We stopped by while walking around downtown Santa Barbara. This little tasting room is located in historical El Paseo plaza. All waitresses were in cute vintage costumes which was fun to look at. Place was quite empty for a Saturday afternoon, in fact I'v never seen downtown Santa Barbara this quiet. I think COVID has taken a toll on all of us. We chose reserved tasting cause they usually taste better in my opinion. Although I am never a fan of wines especially reds. We liked our wines and it was a nice warm afternoon. Wine tasting is always a very enjoyable activity anywhere!

A cute tasting room in the heart of Santa Barbara, Au Bon Climat offers a good variety of wines at various price points. The "reserve" tasting is $20 and the "classic" tasting is $15 for five pours. The reserve is focused on reds and the classic is a mix of reds and whites. We arrived toward the end of the day after doing an earlier tasting in Santa Ynez, so there was only one other couple there tasting. The woman helping us wore a mask the whole time and kept us a close watch on when both our glasses were empty to come by and bring us the next pour. Tasting is now done outdoors, with tables set up in front of the tasting room and just to the side. We opted for a table to the side to be a bit further from the street noise. The more expensive (~$50) wines were definitely the ones that I liked the most, with the Isabelle being quite good. Already being the member of two outstanding wine clubs my bar for purchasing wine is quite high, so while I did not buy any bottles here, I did enjoy the experience!

Are you into Pinot Noir? This is the wine tasting for you while in Santa Barbara. I tried this amazing Pinot Noir from Sanford Winery that I would have never discovered unless I came to Au Bon Climat on my trip to SB. Also, the location is conveniently located within the Presidio neighborhood and all it takes is a stroll through the beautiful Mediterranean architecture of El Paseo Plaza to get to six or so other wine tasting locations if you prefer a different type of wine or just want to do a bit of wine hopping.

I couldn't be happier leaving a wine club membership than this one! Been a member for a couple years and found that the wine started to lack luster. Still enjoyed the convenience pod the location but then Mike Meluskey decide to reach out to us as the GM and turned us off from this winery forever. We used to visit and bring our friends and clients in but now will make sure everyone gets a better taste of Santa Barbara with people that care. Hope Mike finds an industry that has nothing to do with service and respect after cursing at me and writing rude emails.

This place came as a recommendation from a few others. We love love Pinot Noirs and they had a beautiful selection. We didn't join the club but we did buy a couple bottles and enjoyed both of their flights. Their Chardonnay was enjoyable (I'm not typically a fan of Chards) and their Gewurtztraminer was delicious, we purchased two bottles of it! Kyle was knowledgeable and explained the wines thoroughly. We look forward to enjoying our wines back in Vegas!

Au Bon Climat is well known for their more reserved style of winemaking. It's not very common to find this style here in California, but they definitely do it incredibly well. If you're looking for something more fruit-forward, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. At the time of writing, they have two flights to choose from: the classic flight, and the reserve flight. I'd suggest the classic flight if you want to try a variety of styles, and the reserve flight if you came to Santa Barbara for Pinot Noir. I had the reserve flight. Several of the wines completely blew me away. The Chardonnay in particular was absolutely amazing. I'd say they definitely live up to their name. I highly suggest coming to visit this winery if you get the chance, but I'd also suggest doing a bit of homework before coming here so you can fully appreciate it. You get the tasting fee waived with a $60 purchase. I opted not to buy anything as I was traveling and could only carry so many wine bottles. You can find Au Bon Climat almost anywhere.

Great wine, fun atmosphere and wonderful service. Elizabeth was a gem! Would definitely recommend a visit on your next trip to Santa Barbara.

Super cute tasting room downtown! The staff is amazing and super knowledgeable. The wines are great and the ambience is very inviting. Plus they have great live music sometimes. Highly recommend.

We were in Santa Barbara for the day so we stopped in for a tasting. Au Bon is located in a plaza with several other wine tasting rooms. Our group got the Reserve Flight for $20, which included a Chardonnay and several Pinot Noirs. Our favorite was the 2016 Isabelle Pinot Noir. If you order at least $60 worth of merchandise, the tasting is free. This tasting room has a large community table, a bar area, sitting stools against the window, and a sofa. It is a nice intimate setting where you can converse with friends. There were also dogs there so it is a dog friendly place.

Great tasting room in Santa Barbara. I was just passing through SB on the way to Solvang and stopped here because I had heard so much about their wines. Parking is a bit of a headache in this area, but it's worth it. We made a reservation but didn't really need one on a weekday afternoon as it wasn't too busy. We sat outside as it was a nice day and they have a nice patio in the front. Our host was very welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable. We had both the tasting flights side by side. These wines are on the restrained and finesse side ("Burgundian"), which may not be for everyone but we liked most of them. The prices on these bottles are also very reasonable, most are around $30-$40 and the most expensive on the list was $60. The Classic tasting is only $20 and you only have to spend $60 on bottles to cover a tasting. With great service and great wine with great prices, we'll definitely be back here in the future.

Juliana had the best wine descriptions ever ! I love having an expert's opinion about the wine versus a regurgitation of what's written on the menu. We always love it at ABC, but today was extra special

This place doesn't even deserve half of one star. There was a lady who I am assuming was the manager or supervisor at the moment who seemed very upset that one of the employees helped out my group because we didn't have a reservation and tried to make it seem like we weren't important enough at that moment and like we were an inconvenience. So we didn't even sit down and went to a better much more vibey friendlier place which so happens to be across the street. Please do not go here. The vibe and atmosphere is not worth it!

Au Bon Climat is Jim Clendenen's winery in Santa Barbara County. He has a beautiful tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara, just two blocks south of the courthouse. It has a library feel with mission tile floors and floor to ceiling shelves of wine. There is a tasting bar, a communal high top and a sofa. Clendenen's wines cover a broad spectrum. He has many Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that are a classic fit for this region, but he also does unusual grapes like a dry Gewürztraminer, Tocai Friulano, and Aligote, just to name a few. Clendenen's pourers and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his wines. They care about what they are pouring. Bonus: they are friendly and kind too. Wine is subjective, and I didn't love everything that I tasted, but I certainly liked it and left with a few bottles (including several that I have not yet tried). The bottles vary from $18 to well over $100, but he has some older vintages as well. There is a lot of parking in the area - public lots and street parking. Because there is a lot of office business in this area, free street parking abounds on Sunday. I would recommend Au Bon Climat's tasting room to anyone who is passionate about wine. It is a great choice!

We cannot say enough about Cheyenne! Very accommodating! Very knowledgeable! Made us feel comfortable throughout our wine tasting experience

Had a wonderful time tasting some of Au Bon Climat's wine. The Burgundian style of production on some of their Chardonnays shined brightly. The winery still sources grapes through various points of the Central Valley and even one bottle had grapes from Oregon's Willamette Valley. The people were extremely pleasant and helpful. They even offer to offset a tasting fee with every $60 spent. Hint: take them up on the offer.

Decided to duck in and have a last minute tasting here before I left Santa Barbara, and I am so glad that I did. I've been meaning to try their wines for sometime, and I was so pleased. I really liked almost every wine on their reserve flight. My favorite was the 2018 Kick on the Ranch Pinot Noir and surprisingly, the 2018 Hildegarde was surprisingly good considering I'm not as into whites. My least favorite was probably the 2015 Barham Mendelsohn Pinot Noir. The service was also super friendly and helpful. The tasting room itself is really cute, and it reminds me a bit of a library. Maybe sophisticated is a better word than cute as a descriptor. They have tables inside and outside. I sat on the couch inside the tasting room. If you purchase $60 of wine, your tasting is complementary. It's really hard not to want to buy wine once you've done a tasting. There is street parking nearby, or you can park in one of the public lots and walk a short distance.

What an incredible first wine tasting experience! Dean was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the wines he was serving us. He also knew some fun facts about the Santa Barbara area which was quite fun. The cheese pairings were divine and went with the wine very nicely. The tasting room itself is very nice and well decorated. Overall a very great service and I would recommend!

There is indoor and outdoor seating as of June 2021. Only one person was working, which meant slow service as she navigated between multiple groups wine tasting. There were several choices with different price points. My friend and I selected different tastings to allow us to taste the greatest variety of wine. We found most of the tastes high in alcohol without complexity. Overall, not a memorable tasting. It was Sunday and street parking was therefore free.

This place was a treat while in downtown Santa Barbara because my wife loves Pinot noirs which this place specializes in. We tried the tasting flight which is well priced at 15$ or 20$ and then bought a bottle to go. We recommend this place to all Pinot fans as we will also be coming back in the future

Low key and enjoyable. Yes, the days of the inexpensive tasting fees are long gone. But the folks at ABC do a nice job providing a relaxed and varied tasting experience. We had our tasting fees waived as we purchased a reasonable amount of wine. The tasting room servers were knowledgeable and friendly. I'd recommend.

So many people recommended this winery and we were very excited to give their wines a try. We shared the Reserve Flight since it was Pinot Noir heavy (and we love our Pinots) and really enjoyed every one we tasted. The main reason for only giving three starts was due to overall tasting experience. First impressions are always so important and we were a bit turned off when we entered the tasting room and were greeted somewhat coldly by the person inside who immediately asked if we had a reservation. Normally I would think much of it as I'm sure most places offer and encourage making tasting reservations ahead of time but we were from out of town and were walking around when we decided to pop in and was taken a little off guard when the first thing we hear was, "do you have a reservation." Almost like we weren't welcome since we didn't have a reservation and only people with reservations get the opportunity to taste these wines. There was also nobody else there! Throughout our tasting, only one other person was present doing a tasting as well...it didn't seem like an early Monday afternoon was a highly trafficked reservation time frame? So maybe if we were greeted in a more welcoming way this would have lead to us having a better tasting experience. We're also not beginners when it comes to wine and this was the only wine club we didn't end up joining that day...we joined 3 others. Overall their wines were great, they just need to improve a little on the customer experience.

Nice place, nice wine but not as good as the other tasting rooms we visited in Santa Barbara - tasting was limited to the specific flights with no opportunity to try any of the other wines (which was not the case in other places where they would happily add pours from other bottles)

Great Pinot, and the staff are fun and knowledgeable. Convenient location in El Paseo.

It's ok. Not so impressed their wines except Chardonnay. Staffs are nice and very friendly for our dogs.

I can't believe we've lived in Santa Barbara for more than 3 years and just finally tried ABC. I guess I've always thought the Paseo tasting rooms were fancy and intimidating and got used to frequenting our favorites in the Funk Zone, but I'm so glad we finally stopped and joined the wine club because they are quickly becoming a favorite. The wines are all interesting and quality but also affordable. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They rotate the tasting menus frequently so there is always something new (we've been three times in a month and always took something new home). Definitely a must-try in Santa Barbara.

One of the best tasting experiences in Santa Barbara, a small room with nothing special about the decor but the price and quality of the wine is unbeatable. The service is top notch, if new to Santa Barbara or wine tasting in general, start here

This review is more then a review!! Today without knowing I lost my wallet on the street I was contacted by Nichole an employee at this wine tasting room! As a business owner I often have large sums of cash in my wallet and today was one of those days. I was floored to find out she had found my wallet on the street and wanted to return it to me! Wow!!!! That kind of character and integrity is so rare now a day!! I just feel blessed and wanted to express my gratitude. I will be tasting to Au Bon Climat every chance I get!! Thank you Nichole!!!

What a great tasting experience! The wines are excellent, staff is professional and knowledgeable, tasting room is quaint and inviting. We tasted several Pinot Noirs and really loved the Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot and took a couple of bottles home to enjoy. They are located downtown in El Paseo. Easy walk from Funk Zone or train station! We will be back for sure!

Fabulous wines, wonderful customer service. Go here for a lovely wine tasting experience. You will really enjoy it.

We spent a pleasant afternoon here, sipping the reserve tasting. Their wines are mostly delicious - there was one pinot noir I didn't like, but mostly they were good. Our server was quite courteous and knowledgeable. We ended up buying 6 bottles of wine, but they wouldn't credit us the $20 tasting fee (this is why I docked them a star), even though every other winery does this. Au bon Climat is set in a white washed Mediterranean style building, so nice tasting environment.

I'm really disappointed. You think when you make reservations you should be getting the best seat in the house but we literally got the worst! They didn't even realize it was my reservation because they gave it to a party of 3 females before me. I was also served after those ladies, 30 minutes after being seated WITH a reservation. I didn't like how I was treated and didn't feel welcomed. I will not be back and would NOT recommend Au Bon Climat Winery to anyone.

Love this winery in downtown Santa Barbara. We have been twice now and the staff is always so nice and welcoming. The Pinots are incredible! They all have a unique flavor, but each one is truly amazing. It's a cute little tasting room with places to stand at the counter and sit down. They have a couple different flight options as well. If you buy enough of their wine, your tasting is comped. It really is worth a stop and the wine is some of the best we've found in Santa Barbara.

If you love Pinot's this place will not disappoint. Their wines are elegant. My fave is the Isabelle

Amazing Wines! Beautiful Tasting Room! Best Staff! Great Wine Making! Miss you JC.....

Wasn't the greatest service. Wine tasting should be an experience. I felt we were rushed as it was later in the afternoon and the sommelier just wanted to close up and go home. Most wineries will let you revisit your favorite but she just scooped up the glasses as soon as we drank the last drop. Won't be going back there!

We came in for a tasting and our experience was great! Our sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and so kind. We ended up purchasing the 2017 Gamay 15 (Valdiguie) - one of the best reds I have had all year. Highly recommend this spot!

I love this winery. We originally stopped in here for an axxess deal tasting and ended up joining the wine club. The staff have always been personable. Overall the atmosphere is classy but with a casual feel. We also love that this winery is off the beaten path of the funk zone, so you can avoid the crowds. The wine is consistently great...well made...one of the best wineries in town!

We went Saturday late afternoon looking for a really special & fun experience given that we like Au Bon Climat wines but this was really bare bones. Yes, they poured some good wines and yes, our sever was nice. But the ambience or lack there of was really disappointing. This is Santa Barbara where your senses can be filled with beauty every minute! Where was the music? Could there be a small vase of flowers or olives leaves , a small bowl of nuts & fresh fruit or a candle on the table? We're tasting wine - how about a spittoon to empty our glasses? Some water? Perhaps some crackers to help the palate in between tastings? Au Bon Climat, if you want to shine, take note of Scribe in Sonoma - those guys really raised the bar. This place has great bones, they should do better.

We had a lovely afternoon tasting here, followed by joining the wine club. We came in on a Monday afternoon, so we had the tasting room to ourselves. It was very relaxed and informative. My wife and I like Pinots, so this was a good stop. We tried the Pinot only tasting, and ended up buying a couple of the bottles and joining the club. The red only tasting is $20 per person, but if you like the wine and are willing to commit to 2 shipments, you get 2 tasting for free if you join.

We are busing AU Bon Climat tasting room and we're delighted to meet Nicole the young lady pouring the wines. She is pleasant, knowledgeable and a delight to chat with. Full of suggestions for other tasting rooms, restaurants and Santa Barbara in general. Don't miss a visit

We were blow away by this winery. Every once in a while you stumble upon a wine that you don't know how you lived without! We definitely joined their wine club and we are excited to start getting more of their wines. Beautiful Pinots and other French style wines that were complex and not overpowering. The lady who served us our tasting was super knowledgeable and just a positive person. You could tell she enjoyed working there and also truly loved the wines she was serving. Definitely a MUST for other winos!

Staff was awesome, friendly and knowledgeable. People there are a mix of locals and tourist, all with great taste for wine. We had a custom all red flight and all of them were really good. Atmosphere is very chill but fun. Had a great time with really great wine here

Au Bon was referred to us when we had a wine tasting at Sandhi in Lompoc. I understand the wine makers are friends. We arrived in Santa Barbara at 11 and parked very close. Emily was excellent with information, not only about the wines but the area. We did the old world tasting and it was excellent. It was so good, we joined the wine club! There are a lot of places in you can taste in Santa Barbara but this should be on your list.