The Soil and the Vineyards
Have you ever wondered what the perfect soil is for growing a vineyard?
The best soils for vineyards are the ones formed by a mixture of particles of different sizes. In fact in this way it will be possible to have more beneficial effects because of the different sizes of soil components. This is also the reason why soils are preferred on hilly areas or downstream of them, where there is the collection of sediments dragged by erosive agents.
Even though, we should say that, in the lowest part of a vineyard there is more water and more humidity, therefore it will be more difficult to obtain grapes with concentrated juices and very often there is a higher risk of fungal diseases.
Anyway in these positions it will be easier to have a soil composed of different components, distributed on different layers.
These soil types are the result of thousands of years of erosion, by different agents such as wind, water, gravity or glacial activity. All these factors have broken up, transported and deposited different types of particles, each with its own size and chemical composition, which go to make up the fabric of the soil.
In addition, these agents have worked in different historical epochs, and therefore the soil is divided into several layers of different nature. The part closest to the surface is composed purely of organic material, such as humus. This is composed of decaying plant and animal material, is rich in nutrients and has excellent water retention capacity. This part is the one we are least interested in for the cultivation of vine, as it is often planted in soils poor in this element, forcing the plant to develop its roots in depth.
Underneath this organic layer, there is the real and proper soil, which can be from few tens of centimeters to many meters deep. This soil is the one obtained by erosion and it is the one which characterizes the nature of the soil in which roots will sink and it will influence the organoleptic characteristics of the wine produced from it.
Underneath this layer of soil there is also the rocky substratum, from which can be detached particles such as stones and rocks, which will make up the skeleton of the soil. Other times these particles, or at least a percentage of them, come from nearby geological elements transported by erosive agents, often torrents and glaciers.
Anyway when it comes about the soil of a vineyard the most important thing we need to keep on our mind is the following one: the vineyard in order to produce concentrated grapes need to suffer.
How can i let suffer the vineyard?
Everything- as we already mention- starts from the soil.
A poor, difficult, rocky and dry soil will be fantastic for vines.
In Chianti Classico we have Galestro - marlstone in english- which is the perfect example.
Very rude and difficult and pretty dry.
Will create the perfect enviroment for vines, especially for Sangiovese vines.
We hope this article has helped you understand more about the relationship between the vineyard and its soil.
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