Blog Post By Linzi Gay
Clif Family’s The Climber red wine is one of the most well-known wines in our portfolio. Featuring a photo of a majestic overhang and a rock climber on an iconic ascent, the story behind the label is just as compelling as the wine.
The climber on the label is Ron Kauk, famed Yosemite based rock climber and founder of Sacred Rok, a nonprofit that leads trips to Yosemite and Sierra Nevada for underserved youth. Ron first moved to Yosemite at 17. He became part of a group of climbers who spent their time at Camp 4 during the 1970s and 1980s. Many of these early climbers set the standards and routes for Yosemite climbers today.
Clif Family’s Gary Erickson also spent much of his youth in Yosemite, and he and Ron met each other at Camp 4. They soon realized they shared a birth date and a deep respect and appreciation for nature and climbing. Their friendship continued as Ron charted new routes in Yosemite and Gary started making CLIF Bar & Co. energy bars. Over the years, they would get together to climb and talk about life, work, and nature.
Ron was the first to make the daring ascent of a beautiful overhang at Glacier Point in Yosemite. He dubbed the route Heaven, and the photo on The Climber label pays tribute to this majestic climb and Ron’s impact on the sport.
As a wine, The Climber is Bordeaux-style red blend that we produce every year. To be a Bordeaux-style wine, the wine must consist of one or more of the common grapes grown in the Bordeaux region of France: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This wine truly is an adventure in a bottle as the composition will change from year to year as Winemaker Laura Barrett selects her favorite tasting fruit for each vintage.
You can purchase bottles of our Climber Bordeaux-style Red Blend online or by giving us a call at 707-968-0625.
