Rocky Soils

Rocky soils are very infertile.

In rocky soils, the roots of the vines must dig deep to reach water and nutrients. This causes great levels of stress on the vines, and stress is often good for vines.

Stressed vines produces grapes with rich and intense flavors as well as good acidity. In cooler climates, rocks and stones are an important part of ripening grapes in that they absorb heat from the sun reflect it back to the vines. Notable Regions: Bordeaux’s Left Bank (Medoc, Graves), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (those famous galets!), Piedmont.

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Flint Gravel

Flint is a siliceous stone that stores and reflects heat. It is often associated with a "flint" smell that sometimes occurs in wines.

Flint Gravel soils are common in Pouilly-Fumé and the eastern edge of Sancerre in Loire.

Sauvignon blanc loves this soil, heated at the surface by the flint from which it derive its mineral expression. This soil is also called Chailloux in Centre-Loire vineyards.

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Silex (Pouilly Fumé, Loire)

Silex is a type of sedimentary soil that is rich with flint. Silex is silicia in the form of flint or quarts.

Silex is closely associated with limestone, and often exist in close proximity. But Silex is a harder stone with an almost metallic look.

Silex has a reputation for giving a "flinty" character to wine. In French this smokey note is called "pierre à fusil (gunflint)"

Fumé is French for smoked or smokey. The old name for Sauvignon Blanc (Blanc Fumé) is said to describe this characteristic. The old name for Pouilly Fumé was "Blanc Fumé de Pouilly".

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Alberese and Galestro (Chianti)

Albarese and Galestro are grey rocks found in clay sediments in the central and southern part of the Chianti region in Toscana in Italy. They are weathered sandstones with a high proportion of calcium carbonate (limestone). They are crumbly and flake easily under rain and sun, releasing nutrient minerals to the soil.

Alberese (nearly white) is found in the valley floors.

Galestro (nearly yellow) is found at the highest altitudes.

Galestro soils tend to deliver wines with a more robust fruit character, while wines made from Alberese soils can be more mineral.

Galestro holds water. It allows Sangiovese to ripen without suffering heat stress in areas like Montalcino and Chianti Classico. Sangiovese from Galestro gives darker and richer wines compared to Alberese.

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Bordeaux Pebbles

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Rolled Pebbles

Galets Roulés (Rolled Pebbles) soils have larger, rounded, smooth stones, polished by the water in a river.

Galets roulés are a distinguishing feature of many of the vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône South, more specifically the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Gigondas AOC and Vacqueyras AOC.

Grenache expresses itself perfectly in these sun-warmed soils, even during the night, because the stones absorb the heat from the sun during the day and releas that heat slowly overnight.