Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Frank Stitt shares what makes his namesake Pinot Noir special
Reading time: 4 minutes
For nearly half a century, Frank Stitt has developed a reputation as one of Birmingham’s culinary titans. While his restaurants—Bottega, Chez Fonfon and Highlands Bar & Grill—showcase Stitt’s unique blend of traditional European cuisine and comforting southern fare, one of his proudest creations is Frank’s Pinot Noir, a wine born out of a long-standing friendship with the late Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat.
Frank Stitt’s namesake wine honors his friendship with a legendary winemaker
Like all good tales, the story behind Frank’s Pinot Noir begins with friendship.
A little over three decades ago, Frank Stitt met Jim Clendenen, the famed winemaker who was key in putting California’s Santa Barbara County on the map as a world-class wine region. The two became fast friends, bonded by their shared love of travel, French cuisine and—of course—fine wines.
“Jim was this long-haired hippie from Southern California who, like me, fell in love with France in his 20’s. He traveled the world and worked with some of the best French wine makers, which gave him the insight and confidence to pursue a career in wine.”
Frank Stitt
Back in 1982—the same year Frank Stitt opened the legendary Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham—Jim Clendenen founded the Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Maria, California. Inspired by his time in France, Clendenen employed Old World winemaking methods to create Burgundian-style wines that, according to Stitt, could compete with the best wines from the world-renowned Burgundy region of France.
“Jim’s wines are known for their balance; for their finesse; for their elegance; for their acidity and for not being overly high in alcohol content. I think that’s what connected us; Jim was able to produce these California Pinot Noirs that could rival the finest French Burgandies—and he could do it in a way that was graceful and elegant.”
Frank Stitt
Clendenen’s Au Bon Climat was instrumental in the development of Santa Barbara County’s development as a winemaking region and helped set the standard for Southern California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
“Au Bon Climat’s wines were really ahead of their time; at a time when wine critics were obsessed with high-proof wines and new oak flavors, Jim was a crusader in pursuit of balance and harmony in wines.
I consider myself very lucky that he agreed to make wines for us.”
Frank Stitt
How Stitt and Clendenen created Frank’s Pinot Noir
In the early 2000’s, Frank Stitt and Jim Clendenen teamed up to produce house wines for Stitt’s restaurants. Over the years, Stitt and Clendenen experimented with different varietals—a Chardonnay, an Aligoté and a Pinot Blanc, for example—but one blend was a consistent standout: Frank’s Pinot Noir.
“I remember trying the first vintage of Frank’s Pinot when it was 15 years old; I could tell then that the blend was among his most complex and wonderful, sourced from some of his greatest vineyards.”
Frank Stitt
Each vintage of Frank’s Pinot Noir is a little different. Every year, Au Bon Climat sends samples from a handful of its best vineyards; Stitt and his team blend them in different percentages to fine-tune the wine’s best attributes. The result? An elegant, well-balanced wine that pairs delightfully with just about any dish.
“In my opinion, a well-made wine like Frank’s Pinot Noir is very versatile. It pairs well with salmon and olives, quail or chicken. Frank’s Pinot Noir is a bit delicate, but you could easily pair it with nearly any red meat.”
Frank Stitt
Jim Clendenen passed in 2021; but his love for and impact on fine wine lives on throughout the world—and in Birmingham through the Stitt family of restaurants.
“When I reflect on why I’m attracted to restaurants and food and wine, it comes down to the shared sense of joy from breaking bread together and in having food and wine that’s made with care, love and respect for the land and for the ingredients.
I think that is why Jim’s wines have always been such a great fit for our restaurants. We’re so proud of our partnership with Au Bon Climat and having Frank’s Pinot Noir available.”
Frank Stitt
Frank’s Pinot Noir is available at Bottega, Bottega Café and Chez Fonfon.
