SANTA MARIA, Calif; Nov. 30, 2023 — Au Bon Climat, one of Santa Barbara County’s founding wineries, announces the appointment of Cher Engelstad as National Sales Manager for both Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vintners, effective December 1, 2023. As an integral part of the executive team, Engelstad will manage all aspects of national sales overseeing the company’s collaborative relationships with its distributor partners throughout the United States. Engelstad will succeed Michael Main, who is retiring after 14 years with Au Bon Climat.
Engelstad brings over two decades of diverse experience in fine wine sales and management across all channels to her new role. After starting her career in on-premise as sommelier for a premier restaurant group in Dallas Texas, her wine education grew as she moved to Austin, Texas where she was chapter director for Women on Wine, a national wine education group. From there she studied viticulture and worked as assistant vineyard manager for a small, south Texas winery. Upon moving to Los Angeles CA, Engelstad held regional and divisional positions before being named Vice President of Sales at Clos La Chance Winery. There she made an impact on the entire sales initiative by opening new markets, developing distribution and sales channels to facilitate a material increase in production and sales. After CLC, she joined Inglenook in 2013 where she oversaw wholesale sales operations in the western US maintaining the company vision while ensuring brand development and growth. Engelstad joined Joseph Phelps Vineyards in 2022 as Divisional Sales Manager prior to its sale a year later.
“After an extensive search, we are very excited for Cher Engelstad to join our team and lead our sales efforts,” says Jim Adleman, Managing Member of Au Bon Climat. “Her professionalism, track record of building relationships and identifying opportunities in the marketplace, and her understanding of our winery culture, makes her the perfect person for this role.”
“I have long enjoyed the wines of Au Bon Climat and am well versed in their historical significance in advancing the Santa Barbara wine region and the legacy of producing wines of great balance and elegance.” says Cher. “It’s a pleasure to be able once again represent a brand whose wines I so admire and join a dedicated team ensuring Jim Clendenen’s vision lives on. I also look forward to working with second generation Isabelle and Knox Clendenen as Au Bon Climat moves into the future.”
In her free time, Cher enjoys travel and being with family and friends. She is active in her church, climate change issues, and ethical treatment of animal initiatives. Cher lives in Southern California with her husband and their two Shar-Peis.
About Au Bon Climat
Now in its fourth decade, Au Bon Climat was established in 1982 by Jim Clendenen and is devoted to making classic, Burgundian-styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County by incorporating Old World winemaking in a New World wine region. Au Bon Climat was instrumental in elevating Santa Barbara as a premier wine region and promoting it worldwide. The winery continues to be in the forefront with superlative wines that reflect Jim’s vision of balance, restraint and longevity through the dedication of Au Bon Climat’s winemaking team. For more information visit www.aubonclimat.com.
