The undulating Durell Vineyard sits at the southwest corner of the Sonoma Valley appellation, adjunct to Carneros and facing the San Pablo Bay. This area is characterized by intense afternoon and nighttime winds during the growing season. Born on the Pacific Ocean to the west, these persistent winds blast through the Petaluma Gap pushing dense fog into the Southern Valley. You might say this is nature's way of cooling things off. Morning fog retreats during the warm midday hours and by the late afternoon, the ocean winds return. This turbulent microclimate makes the vines self-limiting, resulting in naturally low-yields. What the grower compromises here in tonnage, he more than makes up for with superlative fruit quality. Low-yields produce great intensity of flavor and aroma in the resulting wines.

Much of the Durell Vineyard lies in what vineyard manager Ned Hill describes as "a dried-up river bed." The Gravelly Clay soil--known locally as "Los Robles"--is strewn with coarse gravel and cobblestones. These rocky soils are ideally suited to viticulture serving the dual purpose of dispersing the vine roots within the rocks and maintaining a low-water content (which limits vine growth).

While the unique natural setting of Durell may have destined it for greatness, the true backbone of the vineyard's success is the management. The iconic father and son team of Ned and Steve Hill perform meticulous, year-long farming practices. Their high standards ensure that only the cleanest, ripest fruit passes from the field to the winery. Vines are routinely thinned to ensure adequate spacing and optimal light exposure. Moderate to heavy leaf removal is practiced depending on the block and fruit exposure desired. Harvest is often performed at night while the fruit is colder and more resistant to damage from picking. The final measure of quality control is performed just prior to bottling. Steve and Ned visit each one of their clients to taste the wine and look for "typicity." If the wine does not speak of Durell Vineyard, the name cannot be used on the label.