Soil, Vines & the Taste of Wine

Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences, author of Vineyards, Rocks and Soils: The Wine Lover’s Guide to Geology.

Wine commentators enthuse about the importance of vineyard geology for the taste of wine, and it is much mentioned in promotional material. There is, however, rather less examination of how the connection might come about, and the kinds of processes that might be involved. In fact, critical analysis indicates that while geology is important in the vineyard in a number of ways, its relation to wine flavor is at best indirect and that many of the claims are exaggerated.

In this seminar, Professor Maltman will explain the nature and importance of soil and how it interacts with the growing vine. Then, in light of this, he will look at some of the tasting terms we use, in particular “earthy” descriptors such as slate, flint, mineral, wet stones, etc. How real and meaningful are such terms, and how useful? To what extent can we taste aspects of the vineyard soil in the finished wine?