Soils

Question 1

Limestone

Answer 1

• Calcium carbonate
• Alkaline, free draining
• Loire, Piedmont, Northern Spain, Most of Burgundy, Limestone coast in So. Oz

Question 2

Humus

Answer 2

Black/brown mixture of partially decomposed organic matter

Question 3

Llicorella

Answer 3

• Slate & quartz from paleozoic era; porous and drains well
• Priorat, Spain
• Syrah, Grenache, Carignan

Question 4

Turonian

Answer 4

• Limestone from Turonian era - 89-93M years ago
• Found on slopes of Bourgeuil in Loire
• Cabernet Franc

Question 5

Kimmeridgian Clay

Answer 5

• Calcareous clay containing grey colored limestone of same name
• Principally in Terre Blanche of Sancerre, Chablis, Aube-Champagne
• Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Question 6

Silex

Answer 6

• Flint & sand based
• Formed from a mixture of clay, limestone, silica
• Sancerre, Pouilly Fume
• Sauvignon Blanc

Question 7

Galestro

Answer 7

• Rocky schist soil with huge slabs of schist
• Not like galette stones in Rhone
• Best vineyards in Chianti Classico DOCG
• Sangiovese

Question 8

Helvetian

Answer 8

• Compact sandstone found in Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Monteforte d’Alba in Piedmont
• Gives nebbiolo more structure

Question 9

Tortonian

Answer 9

• Calcareous marl found in barolo and La morra in piedmont

* Makes nebbiolo wines more soft

Question 10

Slate

Answer 10

• Shale altered by high pressure and temperatures
• Harder & less porous than shale
• Mosel

Question 11

Granite

Answer 11

• Formed from solid magma
• Hard and dense
• Baden and Northern Rhone

Question 12

Chalk

Answer 12

• Lower density than limestone but similar
• Champagne, Jerez
• Other sedimentary rocks
  
  • dolomite: high in magnesium
  • sandstone: compressed quartz
  • shale: composed of clay - quite soft

Question 13

Volcanic Rocks

Answer 13

• Formed from surface lava

* Santorini & Madeira