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There are more soil types in the Russian River Valley than all of France. This diversity is key to the appellation, and why so many stellar wines are produced here. In general, the soils of the Russian River Valley are well drained, as a result of the high percentage of degraded sandstone and shale in the soil, or due to gravel underlays beneath the soil. Drainage encourages extensive root development and less vigorous vine growth, which gently stresses the vines to concentrate flavor in the grapes.
The vineyards at J are defined by three topographies: hillside, benchland, and valley floor. The hillside vineyards are dominated by red loam and shallow soils, while the valley floor vineyards are comprised of bale loam, alluvial soil, and rich nutrients over gravel beds. Most of J’s east-side vineyards are sited on alluvial lowland where pinot tends to ripen early, and most fruit from this area is used to make sparkling wine. The surface soil in Nicole’s Vineyard is blessed with red Goldridge series, regarded as the best for growing Pinot Noir. At Robert Thomas Vineyard, the soil is classified as Zamora silty clay loam. The soil in the lower part of the vineyard rests on layers of gravel deposited by the Russian River Valley, while the upper part is mixed with rocky Goldridge loam soils. |
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