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.