How important is the soil in Burgundy?

The Pinot Noir loves well-drained marl and limestone soils on which, depending on the proportion of limestone and the situation of the plot, it will produce a light, elegant red or a powerful, vigorous wine.

What climate is Burgundy?

The climate of the Burgundy region is a modified maritime to semi-continental climate with cold winters, warm summers, and precipitation year round ( Joly et al., 2010 ).

Is Burgundy a cool climate?

The climate in Burgundy is mainly continental, with hot summers, a constant threat of hail and cold winters. However, due to the different orientations of the vineyards, hills, slopes and prevailing winds, there are also a large number of microclimates which are also essential for the expression of the terroir.

Why Burgundy is such a complex wine growing area?

Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are thought to be native to the Burgundy region: Pinot Noir is notorious for being difficult to cultivate, because it requires very specific soil and climate parameters to produce its best fruit. Burgundy has that climate and soil.

What are the soils of Burgundy?

Throughout Burgundy, the soils are predominantly composed of clay and limestone in varying degrees. The word marl (marne in French) applies to soils that are a varying combination of both. Chablis has a prevalence of Kimmeridgian limestone from the Upper Jurassic period (150 million years ago).

What created the limestone soils of Burgundy?

The sea withdrew approximately 65 million years ago and erosion of the exposed sedimentary rocks led to the creation of valleys and clay-limestone soils.

Does it snow in Burgundy France?

Some rainfall is crucial for the growth of the region’s grapes, but don’t expect torrential downpours in Bourgogne. According to the Weather Channel, the average rainfall for the region is between 1.5 and 2.6 inches per month. You are likely to see snow in winter.

What climate is Chablis?

semi-continental
The vineyards of Chablis are located in the northern part of the Bourgogne winegrowing region, close to Champagne, in a northerly zone. The climate is often described as semi-continental, with a long, hard winter and a hot summer, but it is, in fact, quite tricky to classify.

What type of soil does Cabernet Sauvignon prefer?

Sandy Soil Types Sandy soils produce elegant wines that are usually low in tannins and higher in aromatics. Take for example the Cabernet Sauvignons grown in the more sandy soils of the Graves region in Bordeaux.

Does Nebbiolo thrive in warm climates?

In all cases, Nebbiolo is a fussy grape for climate requirements; the most suitable is a warm, continental climate, with low ripening month mean temperatures (approximately 63ºF) and low tempera- ture extremes. In California, frost-free sites are needed due to its early budbreak.

What is kimmeridgian soil?

What is Kimmeridgian Soil? Kimmeridgian limestone, aka Kimmeridgian marl, is a mix of limestone and clay made eons ago, where ancient sea creatures (especially the famous comma-shaped oyster, exogyra virgula) died and settled at the bottom of seas — which have long since dried up.