The emergence and recent focus upon organically certified wine production has contributed to a reassessment of soil characteristics as an important element in new vineyard selection. Compared with the primary status afforded to climate, soil has been frequently neglected or rather taken for granted by a large section of the industry. One of the general rules for vineyard selection is to avoid deeply fertile soils. While these are often responsible for supporting valuable remnants of very old vines, they can be inappropriate for establishing new plantings and maintaining the healthy development of commercially productive rows. The soil profile becomes increasingly relevant in cooler regions where surface evaporation is less effective. In the...