Wine Production : Vine to Bottle - Vinum Vine

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soil is that the Phylloxera louse does not infest sand. Colares
on the coast to the north of Lisbon is well known for its
sandy soils.
• Schist: a coarse-grained crystalline rock that is easily split into
thin flakes. It is heat-retaining, ideal for the production of rich
robust wines, such as the Port wines of Portugal’s Douro Valley.
• Slate: a hard, dark and slab-like rock made of clay, shale and
other elements. It has the advantage of holding moisture,
warming up quickly and retaining its heat, then releasing it
at night onto the vines. The blue Devon slate found in the
Mosel–Saar–Ruwer contributes to the racy character of the
region’s wines.
CHAPTER 3
3.4 Soil compatibility
Having considered the qualities of just some of the many soils in
which the vine can be planted, it is clear that the vine, and in particular
the rootstock, should be compatible with the soil. For example,
chalk soils, although providing excellent drainage, can be low in
fertility, resulting in low vigour vines. When planting vineyards where
there is a high level of active lime in the soil (e.g. most of Burgundy
and Champagne), it is important to select rootstocks resistant to
lime, otherwise chlorosis – the inability of the vine to absorb nutrients –
may present a problem.
3.5 Terroir
The influence of soil on style and quality is encapsulated by the
French term ‘terroir’. Although the concept of ‘terroir’ is controversial,
it is essentially a combination of soil with all its various qualities,
local topography (altitude, slope, aspect) and the local climate. As a
result, the vine can experience different growing conditions within
just a few yards in the same vineyard.