Alfisols: Moderately leached soils with clay accumulation and good fertility; excellent for vineyards due to balanced drainage and nutrient retention.
Andisols: Volcanic-derived soils rich in minerals with excellent water retention; can produce distinctive mineral-forward wines with good acidity.
Aridisols: Dry desert soils with mineral accumulations; need irrigation but can produce concentrated wines with unique mineral profiles when managed properly.
Entisols: Young, minimally developed soils; variable for viticulture but can produce excellent wines if drainage and depth are adequate.
Gelisols: Cold permafrost-affected soils; generally unsuitable for viticulture due to short growing seasons and cold soil temperatures.
Histosols: Organic-rich, peaty soils; typically too acidic and poorly drained for quality wine production without significant modification.
Inceptisols: Moderately developed soils with good drainage; versatile for viticulture, often producing balanced wines that express terroir well.
Mollisols: Dark, fertile grassland soils with high organic matter; excellent for vigorous vine growth but may require canopy management to prevent overproduction.
Oxisols: Highly weathered tropical soils; challenging for viticulture due to low fertility and high acidity, requiring amendments for wine production.
Spodosols: Acidic forest soils with subsurface accumulations; typically require pH correction but can produce interesting wines with proper management.
Ultisols: Strongly leached, acidic soils with clay accumulation; can produce excellent wines if pH is managed, often with distinctive mineral character.
Vertisols: Clay-rich soils that shrink and swell; challenging for root development but can produce concentrated wines in drier climates with proper management.
Rocky Land: Limited soil development with significant rock content; can be excellent for quality wine production by stressing vines and providing good drainage.
Shifting Sand: Unstable sandy deposits; challenging for viticulture without stabilization but can provide excellent drainage in some contexts.
Ice/Glacier: Permanently frozen areas; unsuitable for viticulture.