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When I first began making Private Reserve Chardonnay, back in 1978, we simply went out into our vineyards and selected the grapes with the most concentrated, complex flavors. We still make this selection, and we still recognize that certain vineyard blocks consistently produce richer fruit. However, in the decades since, we`ve learned to take early steps that help us grow more luscious fruit through the viticultural practices we have adopted. Now we are truly producing the grapes for this wine `by the vine,` rather than by vineyard selection only. We ensure that each vine is balanced individually in terms of the amount of fruit relative to the foliage. That process starts at pruning and carries on throughout the growing season as our vineyard workers assess and adjust each vine and its crop. This approach bumps up the quality of all our Chardonnays and gives me even more choices for the special fruit I select for the Private Reserve. I believe our early and constant attention to the vine is really paying off in the concentrated aromas and flavors we are getting in the glass. -Ed Sbragia, Winemaster