Jim Clendenen, winemaker, Au Bon Climat Winery, Santa Maria, CA

Jim Clendenen is one of the most important people in the history of American wine. He established Au Bon Climat winery in 1982, and he’s been named Los Angeles Times Winemaker of the Year, Food & Wine Magazine’s Winemaker of the Year, and the German wine magazine Wein Gourmet’s “Winemaker of the World.” Here, we discussed how his grandmother supported her family, the beauty and rarity of a good business partnership, and how we’re name buddies.

Website: aubonclimat.com

Instagram: @aubonclimat