Soils of Rhone Flashcards
Cote Brune
mica-schistous rock
Cote Blonde
gneiss
Condrieu
decomposed granite
Chateau Grillet
granitic sand
Saint Joseph
schist and gneiss on granite bedrock
Crozes Hermitage
- North: Granitic slopes, similar to Hermitage
* South: Alluvial soils of glacial origin
Hermitage
granite with topsoils of mica, schist and gneiss
Cornas
granite
Chateauneuf du Pape
Clay (argillaceous), sand (siliceous), limestone (calcareous), and marl (molasse). Topsoils are diverse, and include several sizes and types of stones.
In the north and northwest, galets roulés are common. These large round stones comprised of quartzite and silica are the remnants of retreating Alpine glaciers from thousands of years ago, polished smooth by the Rhône River. The galets help to retain daytime heat and moderate temperatures in the vineyard.
Gigondas
stony red clay alluvium
Beaumes de Venise
clay-limestone
Tavel
“Lauses” (white calcareous stone) and galets