Soil Texture
Definition - What does Soil Texture mean?
In the context of viticulture, soil texture refers to the relative texture of a soil from fine to coarse, but it also refers to the composition of the soil. Soil texture is determined in large part by the composition of the soil, with soil in wine-growing regions consisting of differing levels of sand, silt or clay.
WineFrog explains Soil Texture
Soil texture is an important part of viticulture, as the soil texture indicates the types of soil in the vineyard and can help the vineyard manager decide which vines to plant and how to take care of them. Soil texture can indicate which nutrients are available in the soil and how well the soil can drain, or its ability to hold adequate hydration for the vine throughout the growing season. Soils that have a fine texture are high in clay, while medium-texture soils (also known as loam) are a mix of clay, sand and silt, and coarse-texture soils have high amounts of sand. Further classification can be defined by which component is more present in the soil, ie; clay loam, sandy loam or silty clay or clay sandy.
A pedologist can identify the types of soil within a vineyard and assist a vineyard in site selection. An edaphologist can also assist with a planting plan and advise on how the soil will mingle with specific vines and grape varieties.
