![Limestone in the Vineyard](https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1375&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=2200&s=a7d6273d36ff95fd06670e55d9d3943e 2200w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1250&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=2000&s=25433452c6557249598532ff65539d37 2000w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1125&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1800&s=881a8433298b0f86e94aab914e6993f5 1800w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1600&s=c1d65b83f2afce12a47d208cdc1cdbc5 1600w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=812&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1300&s=acf58a9b71cd149b03e7a8e7693b22f7 1300w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=687&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1100&s=e7497509ce07a9b78b8b03697d337941 1100w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=562&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=900&s=8996c7fca788e12a4e92c60ec0c19f15 900w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=800&s=5fa743e43adbe941156d2d8f490b2c0f 800w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=600&s=325b9023cd947f552b381836f53e1f8d 600w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/Limestone-in-the-Vineyard.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=400&s=5bebf40ecef2756e2cd5b5d03ab0a6c9 400w)
Why Soil Matters: Breaking Down Limestone at Purisima Mountain Vineyard
Posted: May 20, 2015
The Californian drought has been on the forefront of America’s mind. Business owners, particularly those in the agriculture sector, are thinking about how the drought will affect their business. Soil is second to climate in the importance of vine growth and health, so naturally soil is a key topic in wine country. Here at Beckmen Vineyards, we are lucky that our vineyard’s soil structure – clay topsoil with a limestone subsoil – performs very well in drought conditions. Think about all those times you’ve gone wine tasting and your host has mentioned the loam/granite/chalk soil and how it is important to the flavor and mouthfeel of the wine. It may seem unsavory to think about dirt when you’re wine tasting, but, soil matters. Vines prefer well-draining soil types; soils that retain water are ideal in drought conditions; limestone is the perfect combination.
Superior Water Retention
The Ballard Canyon AVA has a small outcropping of limestone, which Purisima Mountain Vineyard was built on. The limestone is made from fossilized marine life, created when the Santa Ynez Valley was part of the Pacific Ocean seabed. While vine roots cannot actually penetrate through this hard layer of rock, there are preexisting deep crevices in the limestone. Roots will search for water and other nutrients, channeling down into these crevices and creating deep root systems.
Calcium carbonate is the main element of limestone. When the hard limestone outcropping deteriorates, this calcium carbonate is then abundant in the topsoil, too. In our case, this topsoil is between 12 – 36 inches of clay. Soils rich in calcium are able to retain moisture very well in the dry seasons, and also have good drainage necessary for grapevines to thrive. Some of the best wines around the world are made from calcium-based soils with a high water retention rate: Champagne, Chablis, Loire, Rhône, and certain regions of Australia, New Zealand, and California.
Absorbing Minerals
Calcium is a necessary element for vine growth and vitality, both in the soil and in the plant itself. Vine roots can only absorb molecules, ions, and minerals, which are all needed to keep the vine alive. Roots growing in calcium rich soils have an easier time absorbing minerals, thus resulting in a healthier plant. When roots are happy and healthy, the vine can focus its energy on above ground growth in the canopy and fruit development.
Resistant to Disease Pressures
Calcium is also located in the grapes themselves; calcium in the grape skin is used as a defense mechanism for fungus and disease. If a vine has low amounts of calcium, however, the calcium is used inside the grape before being used to strengthen the grape skin. A calcium shortage then weakens the grape’s ability to protect itself against disease pressures. If you have a vine with healthy amounts of calcium, you are building a strong barrier against disease.
A Beckmen Example
When Tom and Steve Beckmen founded Purisima Mountain Vineyard, they knew the calcium rich soils would help distinguish their wines. A prime example of how the soil helps to create outstanding wines is our 2013 Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah Viognier. This wine has a noticeable minerality, which is easiest to pick-up on the palate. The savory, saline aspect, which entices you to take another sip as soon as you’ve swallowed the wine, is due to the minerality. Grapes grown on calcium rich soils also tend to have a higher acidity, which creates that long, mouthwatering finish in the 2013 PMV Syrah Viognier. If you can’t notice these flavors or characteristics, don’t worry. Just know that the soil impacts the way wine tastes.
![Steve beckmen soil rock sample](https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1375&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=2200&s=e40052e929631a2f5594ecbdd6eafc9c 2200w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1250&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=2000&s=9d64436b63e0acf9ebd3e0a401cb722c 2000w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1125&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1800&s=9507c78fc0eb7fbda3da9fe9ca328d79 1800w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1600&s=222d947509137284e94ecfe7d7e50db0 1600w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=812&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1300&s=5591fe0d443318d7e406c045be1e57dd 1300w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=687&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1100&s=4eb5979dec5c59cb7b210938b199365f 1100w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=562&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=900&s=170d7647d4051b68d9892ab895de3356 900w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=800&s=aa15de53f732fb76991a39b4e6c99eae 800w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=375&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=600&s=d7a7843ef2cc30add0f098c22e09ce29 600w, https://beckmen.imgix.net/blog/steve-beckmen-soil-rock-sample.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&domain=beckmen.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=250&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=400&s=2a9e13eb92fba75cb32600788f2004b4 400w)
The Beckmens saw the potential in the soil of the unplanted 365 acre ranch they purchased in 1996, which they would then turn into one of California’s premier biodynamic vineyards. The first step in creating world class wines is starting with the highest quality fruit possible. No matter how good your winemaking skills are, you can’t make good wine from bad grapes; our limestone soil ensures that our grapes are one step ahead of the bunch.
If you would like to learn how soil affects the outcome of wine on a deeper scientific level, I suggest reading these two articles on Calcium in Viticulture Part 1 and Part 2. I used these articles to help break down the basics of limestone soils.