---
title: "List of vineyard soil types"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vineyard_soil_types"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:30:37.926102+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The soil composition of vineyards is one of the most important viticultural considerations when planting grape vines. The soil supports the root structure of the vine and influences the drainage levels and amount of minerals and nutrients that the vine is exposed to. The ideal soil condition for a vine is a layer of thin topsoil and subsoil that sufficiently retains water but also has good drainage so that the roots do not become overly saturated. The ability of the soil to retain heat and/or reflect it back up to the vine is also an important consideration that affects the ripening of the grapes.
There are several minerals that are vital to the health of vines that all good vineyard soils have. These include calcium which helps to neutralize the soil pH levels, iron which is essential for photosynthesis, magnesium which is an important component of chlorophyll, nitrogen which is assimilated in the form of nitrates, phosphates which encourages root development, and potassium which improves the vine metabolisms and increases its health for next year's crop.

== List of soil terms ==
Unless otherwise noted the primary reference for this list is Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia 2005

=== A–C ===
Albariza – Formed by diatomaceous deposits. Found in southern Spain
Alluvium – Highly fertile soil that has been transported by a river. Often contains gravel, sand and silt.
Basalt – Volcanic rock that is high in calcium, iron, and magnesium. Variable potassium and little or no quartz.
Boulbènes[fr] – Fine siliceous soil that is easily compressed and common in the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux.
Brickearth – See under Loess.
Calcareous soil – Alkaline soil with high levels of calcium and magnesium carbonate. Soil typically cool in temperature and that provides good water retention and drainage. Calcareous clay soils have high limestone content, which neutralizes the natural acidity of the soil. However, the cool temperatures of the soil normally delay ripening in the grape, which tends to produce more acidic wines.
Carbonaceous soil – Soil produced through the anaerobic decomposition of rotting vegetation. This type of soil includes anthracite, coal, lignite and peat.
Chalk – Very porous soft limestone soil that vine roots can easily penetrate. It provides good drainage and works best for grapes with high acidity levels.
Clay – Sedimentary rock-based soil that has good water-retention ability but poor drainage. The soil is often very cool and high in acidity. The Right Bank of Bordeaux is dominated by clay-based soils.

=== D–H ===
Dolomite – Calcium-magnesium carbonate soil.
Flint – Siliceous stone that reflects and retains heat well. The Pouilly-Fumé wine of the Loire Valley is generally produced from flint-based soil and is said to have "gun-flint" smell in the wine.
Galestro – Schist based soil found in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Granite – Composed of 40–60% quartz, 30–40% Orthoclase and various amounts of hornblende, mica, and other minerals. This soil warms quickly and retains heat well. The soil's high level of acidity works to minimize the acid levels in the grapes which works well with acidic grapes like Gamay. It is the main soil type of the Brand region of Alsace.
Gravel – Loose siliceous pebble soil that has good drainage but poor fertility. Vines planted in this type of soil must penetrate deeply to try to and find nutrients in the subsoil. Wine made from vines produces on clay gravel beds have less acidity than those planted on limestone gravel beds. The Graves and Sauternes regions of Bordeaux consist predominantly of gravel-based soil.
Greywacke – Sedimentary soil formed by rivers depositing quartz, mudstone and feldspar. It is found in vineyards of Germany, New Zealand and South Africa.
Gypsum – Calcium sulfate based soil that is formed through the evaporation of seawater. It is a high absorbent soil that has average drainage ability.
Hardpan – A dense layer of clay or other material that is impermeable to water. In some areas of Bordeaux, a sandy iron-rich layer is located deep enough below the surface to act as a water table for the vine.