Originally planted in 1979 by Ed Durell, this famous vineyard is located in the southwestern foothills of the Sonoma Valley, north of the San Pablo Bay and east of the Petaluma Wind Gap. The site is characterized partly by its Region II climate, where conditions are moderated by the Bay and the Pacifi c Ocean effects, making it ideal for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. This block of Chardonnay is planted to an Old Wente selection, which can vary signifi cantly depending on its growing conditions. The rocky, volcanic soils at Durell Vineyard create a challenging environment for the vines’ root system, yielding very small grape clusters that have tremendous concentration and power.