The 2017 growing season was characterized by a cool spring in the Arroyo Seco. Cool, foggy mornings and evenings, with daytime highs in the 80s through the summer, provided optimum weather for ripening Chardonnay. The warm weather in early September, balanced by the afternoon winds of the valley, fully ripened the fruit and extended the 2017 growing season. The Chardonnay harvest began on October 7th, which is later than normal for this region, and finished on October 31. Our Riverstone Chardonnay is now comprised of nine Chardonnay clones - 4, 5, 17, 76, 95, 96, 548, 809 and Hyde-Wente - each bringing one component to the complexity of flavors, textures and acidities that will be found in the final blend.