Soils

Question 1

There are three different types of soil in Bordeaux, what are they? Describe them.

Answer 1

Alluvial - Found on the river banks, generally very fertile and not suitable for viticulture.

Gravel - Relatively rare and is over a base of marl and flint.

Limestone and clay - A common soil type in quality vineyards.

Question 2

What important soil formations were deposited in Bordeaux? Where are they located?

Answer 2

Five distinct gravel banks deposited on the left bank of the Gironde in the communes of:

St-Estephe
Pauillac
St-Julien
Margaux
Pessac-Leognan

Question 3

What are the advantages of gravel in Bordeaux?

Answer 3

Advantages of gravel are:

• Free draining, so in wet conditions rain can move away easily and dilution of fruit isn’t an issue.
• The gravel absorbs heat which it then re-radiates back onto the vines to aid in ripening.
• Where the gravel occurs over clay it gives access to water.

Question 4

What is the disadvantage of gravel in Bordeaux?

Answer 4

In hot years, due to the free draining nature of the soil, lack of water can be an issue.

Question 5

What is the soil type of Sauternes?

Answer 5

Clay and sand.

Question 6

Describe the predominant soil of the right bank of Bordeaux.

Answer 6

The soil of the right bank is predominantly clay over limestone. It is moisture retaining which makes it damper and cooler, which can promote frost and endanger the early ripening Merlot.

Question 7

What is the soil of the Entre-Deux-Mares?

Answer 7

Limestone overlaid with river deposits.

Question 8

Describe the soil of the Cote d’Or and how it was formed.

Answer 8

A limestone ridge, formed by sedimentation of marine fossils, running southwest from the town of Dijon. It essentially a fault line between Morvan hills to the west and the Soane plane to the east.

Question 9

What can be found below the limestone ridge of the Cote d’Or?

Answer 9

The granite bedrock that is so prominent in Beaujolais.

Question 10

What are the two main soil types in Chablis and what is the main difference between the two?

Answer 10

Kimmeridgian and Portlandian clay, both over a bedrock of limestone.

Kimmeridgian clay has a profusion of fossilised oyster shells which give wines a greater finesse.

Question 11

What other soil type is present in Cote d’Or?

Answer 11

Marlstone - A calcium rich clay.

Question 12

Describe how the soils in the Nuits and the Beaune differ.

Answer 12

Nuits has more incidence of clay in the marl, making it better for red production.

Beaune has a bigger presence of limestone near the surface, meaning it is better suited to Chardonnay production.

Question 13

Describe the soil formation of the Cote Chalonnaise.

Answer 13

A fragmented area of hilly outcrops where the soils consist mainly of limestone and marl.

Question 14

Describe the soil formation of the Macon.

Answer 14

Rolling chains of hills based on limestone which suits the Chardonnay grown here, and incidences of sand and clay on which Gamay and Pinot Noir do well on.

Question 15

What is the general overview of the soils of Beaujolais?

Answer 15

In Beaujolais Villages the soil is granite based hills with schist and sand topsoil which drains well and warms the Gamay vines. There are patches of chalky clay well suited to white wine production.

In the flatter Beaujolais area to the south soils are sandier and limestone based. There are incidences of clay which is too cold to ripen Gamay.

Question 16

Pink granite is a major soil type in which Beaujolais Crus?

Answer 16

Brouilly, Regnie and Fleurie.

Question 17

What is the soil type of Morgon?

Answer 17

‘Roche Pourrie’ or ‘Rotten Rock’, ancient schist and eruptive rock.

Question 18

In Alsace, what types of soils are found on the upper slopes?

Answer 18

• Alluvial granite and gneiss.
• Schist, quartz and clay.
• Sedimentary volcanic.
• Sandstone.

Question 19

In Alsace what soil types can be found on the lower slopes?

Answer 19

• Calcareous.
• Calcareous sandstone.
• Clay / Marl.
• Calcareous / Marl.

Question 20

In Alsace what soils can be found on the plains, and what factors must be considered because of this?

Answer 20

Alluvial from the Rhine river delta.

Drainage must be good, as must sunshine and water, and rootstock is important.

Question 21

In Alsace where can you find alluvial granite and gneiss, and what is it said to give wine?

Answer 21

Around Selestat and in a thin band between Turckheim and Ribeauvlle just north of Colmar. It is said to give increased fruitiness which would explain why there are so many quality villages in the area.

Question 22

In Alsace, what does sedimentary volcanic soil from the upper slopes give to wines and what variety is it said to be suited to?

Answer 22

A smokey quality, suited to Pinot Gris.

Question 23

Clay / Marl soils from the lower slopes in Alsace is said to give what to wines? What variety is it said to be well suited to?

Answer 23

It contributes weight and body which makes it well suited to Gewurtztraminer.

Question 24

There are many different soil types in The Loire, name four of them.

Answer 24

• Tuffeau (white and yellow).
• Kimmeridgian Clay.
• Sandstone.
• Clay limestone.

Question 25

What is tuffeau?

Answer 25

A soil of calcareous origin, it is a special type of limestone, softer than normal, that provides better drainage.

Question 26

What makes yellow tuffeau different to white and where is it found?

Answer 26

Yellow tuffeau has a higher sand content. It is found in Chinon and Bourgeuil, Cabernet Franc performs well on it.

Question 27

Where can white tuffeau be principally found?

Answer 27

Saumur and the AOPs of Touraine.

Question 28

What soils can be found in the Nantais?

Answer 28

Schist, gneiss, granite and sand. the key is drainage in this humid climate.

Question 29

What is the generic soil description for the Northern Rhone?

Answer 29

Granite and gneiss, especially on the western side of the river where the soil is so thin it has to be carried up the slope.

Question 30

Describe the soil of Condrieu.

Answer 30

Granitic with best sites covered in a decomposed mica called Arzelle.

Question 31

Describe the soils of Hermitage.

Answer 31

Largely a bank of granite but many different soils can be over the hill. It has sandy gravel and limestone towards the top of the hill and clay on the lower slopes.

Question 32

Describe the soils of Cornas.

Answer 32

Largely granite terraces which require retaining walls.

Question 33

Give a generic description of the soils of the Southern Rhone.

Answer 33

Generally alluvial deposits overlaid with stones and pebbles, there are also areas of clay, sand limestone.

Question 34

What are Galets Roules?

Answer 34

A type stone found in some vineyards of CNDP deposited by an ice age glacier. They retain heat and re-radoate it back onto the vines. They are also evidenced in Costieres de Nimes.

Question 35

Describe the soils of Gigondas.

Answer 35

The limestone hills of the Dentelles de Montmirail.

Question 36

What are the soils of Bandol?

Answer 36

Poor, clay, limestone and sandstone of gravelly and stony topsoil.