Terra Rossa Soil

The soil of the Whalebone Vineyard is the famed Terra Rossa, similar to the soil of Coonawarra but because of its different geological parent, exhibiting some unique characteristics. Whereas the limestone under Coonawarra is less than 1 million years old (Quaternary era), the limestone under Whalebone Vineyard is from the Oligocene era (35 million years old).

The Oligocene limestone has weathered at the surface to form a fractured limestone cap and the deep, bright red Terra Rossa soil of the Whalebone Vineyard. The vine roots exploit the marly, clay rich lower layers deep within the ancient shoreline. The Terra Rossa soil and the underlying limestone are a controlled water-supply system that progressively dries out through the ripening season, but maintains the vines in healthy growth stasis without added irrigation. Any excess summer rainfall is quickly drained away into the limestone structure beneath the Terra Rossa soil.

This wonderful viticultural soil and its parent limestone supply a balanced but modest nutrition, allowing the vine to achieve a natural balance without excess vigour.