Archive for the 'Soil' Category

Hot Rocks in the Sun: Alluvial Soils in Laserna

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

contino_alluvial1

Courtesy of the Río Ebro: Graciano vines planted in alluvial soils at Viñedos del Contino, Laserna (Álava), Spain, October 2009. The Sierra Cantabria is visible in the background.  In these poor soils along the northern bank of the Ebro River, the vine is king; by capturing and radiating the heat of the sun well after sunset, sedimentary deposits at Contino’s 6o hectare estate help Graciano—a variety so difficult to manage that many grape growers won’t even bother with it—achieve ripenss levels unheard of in most other parts of the region.

Curious structures in and around Paula’s ‘place,’ Part Two: The mystery of the Ganimede

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Pork Chops & Rioja ‘Sauce’

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Rioja on the Web: Serafin Alvarado MS on a “Rioja in Transition”

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Notes from the North of Spain, Day Five: Press Wine for Breakfast

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Notes from the North of Spain, Day Three: Russian oak, a Briones surprise, and a Hemingway discovery

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Magic at the limits of viticluture: Rioja CIA DVD Update

Thursday, March 27th, 2008