Soil Drainage
Good soil drainage in the vineyard is necessary to produce premium wines.
The role of Soil Drainage in the Vineyard
If soils do not drain well, water can build-up around the base of the roots and cause excessive foliage on the vine. Too many leaves will block grapes from sun exposure and prevent them from ripening entirely.
The lowest elevations of any particular region drain the worst. These locations have a higher water table than higher elevations. Because their roots need oxygen, grapevines like a low water table.
Vines will obviously die without enough water as well. The minimum amount of rainfall for survival is 22 inches a year. If a region does not get this much precipitation, irrigation is necessary.
Ideally, there are occasional underground pools of water that roots can reach. Water will gather on clay concentrations in the subsoil as well as bedrock. The slope of the land also has a major effect on drainage.
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