Soil Types Flashcards

1
Q

What are the best soils in the Southern Rhone?

A

Stony to absorb heat (Galets)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the soil in Priorat called, what is its make up and what does it do?

A

Llicorella
Red slate with small particles of Mica which reflects heat into the vines, conserves heat over night. In between the layers of slate is powdered clay, which holds water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the predominant soil in Champagne?

A

Chalk (well-drained, but retains water at depth)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the soil in Sherry region?What is it largely made up of?What positive attributes does this soil have for wine quality? What do vinegrowers do to help retain water?

A

Albariza
Very high Chalk content
Good drainage of winter rain but retains water at deep levels to sustain vine through hot summers.
Forms hard crust to seal moisture in and limit evaporation
Pits dug in Autumn to catch water, smoothed over in Spring.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How would you describe the ideal soil character for grape growing? (generally)

A

Well drained retaining only enough water, and low but sufficient nutrients.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What type of soil would you expect in Haut-Medoc and Pessac-Leognan?

A

Gravelly - Good drainage, so doesn’t hold water
Gravel soils tend to be warming, helping Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What type of soil produces best wines in St Emillion?

A

Clay - Cooling influence on vines and so slows ripening, allowing longer development of aroma without losing fresh acidity.(This is a good illustration of how ripeness works - exploring the AAA and Balance).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the best soils for high quality in Beaujolais?Why are they considered the best?

A

Granite.
Gamay typically produces high yields which can be of simple quality. Low nutrients results in lower yields of more concentration.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where are basic level vineyards largely located?What are soil conditions?

A

Flat sites or bottom of slopes
Soil is deeper than slopes and often more fertile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where are Premier and Grand level vineyards largely located? What are soil conditions?

A

Mid slopes, with southerly aspects for explosure and ripenning (The B in BLIC - balance).Well drained. (=concentration / the LIC in BLIC)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What type of soil do the best vineyards in Mosel have?

A

Slate soils - good drainage and warming influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the soil type of Central Vineyards in the Loire?

A

Chalky and stony = well drained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do soil types in Chinon and Bourgueil influence wine style?

A

Sandy soil - Light and fruity
Limestone and clay slopes - Riper - Full bodied and tannic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What the name of the soil for which Coonawarra is famous? What are its qualities?

A

Red Terra Rossa clay over limestone - Good drainage and low nutrients encourage low yields of high concentration fruit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the highest quality sub region of Hawke’s Bay? Describe the key soil type of this region.What affect does this soil type have on style and quality?

A

Gimblett GravelsWell drained, heat absorbing gravels on the valley floor.Achieves sufficient ripeness (Balance), and concentration (LIC - BLIC).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the predomincant soils in the Maconnais?

A

Limestone (good for Chardonnay)

17
Q

Cabernet Franc prefers what type of soils in Bordeaux?

A

Gravel and limestone - warm and well-drained (St Emillion, Medoc, Graves)

18
Q

What are the 3 main soil types in St Emillion?

A

NW - gravel and limestone
SE - clay and limestone
Base of the escarpment - sandy
NW and SE are best

19
Q

What is the soil like in Bas Medoc?

A

Clay with some gravel outcroppings

20
Q

What are the soil types in Beaujolais?

A

North - Granite and Schist - Village and Premier Cru
South - sandy alluvial plain - simple wines

21
Q

What are the main soil types in Northern Rhone?

A

Granite - Hermitage & Cornas (retains heat)
Granite/Volcanic/Schist - Cote Rotie & Condrieu
Alluvial/Clay - St Joseph & Crozes Hermitage

22
Q

What are the best soils in Anjou?

A

Stony pockets to retain heat

23
Q

Which region in the Loire has lots of clay soils?

A

Touraine

24
Q

What is the main soil type in Touraine?

A

Clay

25
Q

What are the main soils in Vouvray?

A

Clay

26
Q

What are the main soil types in Sancerre?

A

Limestone-based and stony (well-drained)

27
Q

What are the soil types in Alsace?

A

Hillsides - granite, limestone, sandstone, clay, loam, volcanic
Valley floor - alluvial (simpler)

28
Q

What is the main soil type in Douro?

A

Schist - fractures for water stored deep underground

29
Q

What is the main soil type in Santorini?

A

Volcanic

30
Q

What are the main soils for Etna DOC?

A

Volcanic (well-draining)

31
Q

What are the main soils in Campania?

A

Volcanic

32
Q

What are the 2 main soil types in Soave?

A

Northern foothills - Limestone, clay and volcanic (slow ripening)
Southern plains - Sandy and alluvial (simple)

33
Q

What are the common soils for Valpolicella and Soave Classico?

A

Limestone, clay and volcanic

34
Q

What is the soil like in Central Valley California?

A

Very fertile - high yields

35
Q

What are the soils like in Santa Cruz Mountains?

A

Low fertility, mountainous

36
Q

What is the soil like in Meursault?

A

Low humidity due to low water table - rich wines

37
Q

What is the soil like in Aloxe-Corton?

A

Rich in iron - good for structured Pinot Noir

38
Q

What type of wines do clay and limestone soils produce vs granite / schist?

A

Clay & Limestone - Lithe & elegant
Granite & Schist - Tighter & rustic