Grapes in different producing areas show different characteristics due to different "terroir". In a narrow sense, "terroir" refers to the soil of the vineyard, which has a very important influence on the characteristics and quality of grapes. This article will introduce eight of the best vineyards in the world.
1. Burgundy Loire Valley, France
On a ridge known as the Kimmeridgian are some of the best vineyards in the world. Each mountain here has a different soil type, but all contain some limestone clay formed by ancient shellfish. The most successful vineyards sit on this chalky soil and have been famous for centuries.
It is said that 1,200 years ago, the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru vineyard was the favorite vineyard of the king at that time. The best vineyard soils in the Loire Valley are a mixture of flint and sand formed from limestone, clay, and quartz.
2. Mosel, Germany
The steep walls of the valley protect the vines from bad weather, and the steep angles allow the vineyards to get more sunlight, while the river also reflects light for the vines. The slate absorbs heat in the sun and retains that heat well into the afternoon. When these factors all combine, it undoubtedly provides a long ripening period for the fickle Riesling grape.
3. Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux is arguably the holiest grape producer on earth. Until the 17th century, much of the area was marshland, until a Dutch engineer drained the water, revealing mineral-rich gravel soil. This gravel mound produces the Médoc grapes that have been sought after by the upper classes for centuries.
4. Rutherford, Napa Valley, United States
Rutherford's soil is also a major contributor. At the bottom of the valley, there are 3 different alluvial fans formed by the deposits. Soils range from gravel to sandy to rich loam, and some of America's most famous vineyards sit atop broken sandstone and limestone soils. Bosche, Martha's Vineyard, Bella Oaks, Opus One, these vineyards are enough to get everyone excited.
5. Alsace, France
Alsace is affected by the "rain shadow effect" formed by the Vosges Mountains, with beautiful vineyards stretching 70 miles across the eastern foothills, and 20 different soil components give the grapes their unique fragrance.
The Premier Cru vineyards "Schlossberg" and "Castle Hill" are translated from German and are well-drained and rich in granite soils. Riesling is the most suitable grape variety for both vineyards.
Not far away, the Furstentum grand crus are famous for their juicy Gewürztraminer grapes due to their higher proportion of limestone clay.
6. Tuscany, Italy
The soils of Tuscany contain several different types of soils, ranging from tuff and volcanic rocks to sandstone and lime clay. It is precise because of the diversity of soils that Tuscany has become a world-renowned grape-producing region. Each different bottom soil creates excellent living conditions for different grape varieties.
7. Priorat, Spain
Around the Montsant region lies the most otherworldly soil on earth, Llicorella. These soils, formed from a mixture of black slate and quartzite, were dark in the Paleolithic period but shimmered in sunlight due to the high content of crystals in the soil.
It is rock-rich, permeable, and drains well, forcing the roots of the vines to dig deep (up to 25 meters) into the bedrock in order to obtain water and nutrients. Because the mountains here are too steep, the planting and picking of grapes must be done manually.
8. Mendoza, Argentina
The mixed soils of sandstone, granite, schist, and alluvial are not very unique in Argentina. This soil, combined with the high altitude, creates a unique environment for the grapes to grow. The grapes here are grown at 2,500 feet in the Andean foothills, an elevation far higher than most grapes-growing regions in Europe.
