soil
Good wine starts in the vineyard, and the foundation for any good vineyard is its soil. Understanding your soil chemistry and composition allows for maintaining good soil health. Before planting a single vine, we spent time learning and testing to ensure the vines, dirt, and management practices would be a perfect pairing.
the dirt
The perfectly balanced pH soil is a Marshall Silt Loam, made up of 4% Sand, 61% Silt, 35% Clay at a depth of 7-22 inches, with about 3% organic matter. Classified as “Fine-silty, Mixed, Superactive, Mesic Pachic Hapludolls Mollisol Udoll” So who cares?
Well, we do. Here’s why:
Pachis – Thick like a pachyderm! Thickened with dark organic matter created by ‘extra big’ grasses grown throughout history, this created an extra thick layer of top soil. Providing a perfect home for the roots, with plenty of nutrient exchange from dirt to vine.
Mollisol – Meaning hearty and rich black soil – created from the decomposing of organic matter, molli being Latin for soft. The abundance of natural grasses left influences on the dirt and nutrients available. Managed right, this can produce an amazingly deep flavorful wine – a very distinct terroir.
Udoll – Describing the humidity within the soil, this dirt is a moisture abundant home. Plenty of access to the water when the vines are thirsty.
Hapludoll – The mixture type – a perfect combination of Silt, Clay, and Sand allowing for the perfect amount of water retention and drainage. – right where it should be
Mesics – Soil temperature regime - not too cold not too hot.
Super Active – Reaction Class – Nutrient flow between dirt and root is critical to both growth and quality. A 'Super Active' reaction class means the soil is very conductive and can provide a perfect nutrient source for the vines.
So what does it all mean...
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Beneath our vines lie deep prairie soils, dark and fertile, carved by glaciers, quietly nourishing each cluster through the rhythm of the seasons. From this foundation, our Frontenac Gris emerges with aromas of sun-warmed peaches and fresh citrus, unfolding into a silky, generous palate. Our Seyval Blanc captures the brightness of the land, offering a lively freshness with notes of green apple and lemon zest that linger on a crisp, elegant finish.
Every glass reflects the harmony between our vineyard and its soil—wines that are vibrant, balanced, and unmistakably tied to this place.