The Best Soil for Wine Grapes

The best wine grapes come from certain regions not only because of the climates there. Wine growers know that soil type is also very important when growing grapes for wine production.

Identification

• According to Moet Hennessy USA, soil composition is very important when growing grapes. Wine grapes like soils that are rich in clay because the clay stays cooler than other soils, allowing the grapes to ripen at a slow rate. Clay-rich soils also retain water more easily than other types of soil

Geography

• Some of the best soil for growing wine grapes is found in France, according to BellaOnline. Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire Valley all have soil rich in limestone. Since limestone features fossils, it is rich in calcium. Burgundy is famous for its marl, a combination of clay and limestone.

Types

• Other types of grapes thrive in other soils. Wines in California grow well in what is called loam, a mixture of sand, silt and clay. Meanwhile, the wine grapes of the Napa Valley thrive on the minerals found in that region's volcanic soil.