Winescapes in the Western Cape
A geological adventure in an ancient South African topography.
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Alex Maltman
Alex Maltman is emeritus professor of Earth sciences at Aberystwyth University, in Wales, UK, and the author of Vineyards, Rocks and Soils: A Wine Lover’s Guide to Geology (Oxford, 2018).
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Tuff, tufa, tufo, and tuffeau: A tangled world
From Rome to Eger, and Saumur to Campania, Alex Maltman traces the complex intertwined etymology and geology of tuff,…
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Clay: What it is and why it matters
Alex Maltman investigates clay, a crucial wine soil type that is simultaneously familiar and mysterious. Alex Maltman on limestone…
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Flint: A striking story
In the latest of his deep dives into wine’s most significant soil categories, Alex Maltman explores the properties of…
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Limestone: Holy grail or charismatic illusion?
With so many of the world’s finest wines grown on limestone and its relatives, it’s no wonder that many…
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Between a rock and a hard place Vineyard Soils
So, along with the widely held convictions that vineyard soils have a major influence on wine character and taste,…
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