(WineFolly) - What are the best soils for growing wine grapes? One of the most frequently mentioned traits of a great wine is the soil. The conversation usually sounds something like this:

“This estate is certainly well-located, resting on well-drained, gravelly soils with some veins of clay running through them.” –Chateau Charmail, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux

 So, now that you’ve read the statement above, you might be wondering: “What the heck does thatmean?“

Introduction to Soil Types and Wine 

Here are two very common questions when it comes to soils and wine: 

• Question: Do great wines only grow on certain soils?

Answer: Yes but it’s complicated. There are several factors including climate, elevation, type of grape and style of wine that effect which soil is best.

• Question: Do earthy flavors in wine come from the soil?

Answer: No. Believe it or not, this assumption has never been proven!

Fortunately, we can understand wine a little better by paying attention to how wines behave on 4 primary soil types:

1. Sandy Soils
2. Clay Based Soils
3. Silt Soils
4. Loam Soils

1. Sandy Soils

Elegant wines with high aromatics, pale color and low tannin