The Power of the Land: How Italian Soils Shape the Most Extraordinary Wines
The soil on which the vines grow is one of the fundamental elements that influence the character and quality of the wine. Italy, with its geological variety, offers an incredible range of soils, each of which imparts unique characteristics to the wines produced. For example, the volcanic soils of Etna, in Sicily, rich in minerals, give the wines a marked minerality and a vibrant freshness, with notes of flint and citrus. In the Chianti region of Tuscany, the clay and limestone soils, known as "galestro", are ideal for growing Sangiovese, a grape that produces structured wines, with fine tannins and high acidity.
Even the sandy soils of Veneto, where the grapes for Prosecco are grown, influence the lightness and delicacy of this sparkling wine loved all over the world. Each soil, therefore, is an essential ingredient in the production of wine, capable of leaving a distinctive mark that makes each bottle unique and unrepeatable. Understanding the terroir, or the interaction between soil, climate and vine, is what allows winemakers to create wines that tell the story of their place of origin.
