Our Soil

El Dorado County's diverse soils offer a panoply of geologic and geographic settings that assure maximum flavors will be concentrated within the grapes. Primary attributes of soils that are important to growers include, among others: mineral composition, soil texture, soil thickness, depth of root penetration, water retention properties, and resistance to erosion.

Lava Cap is planted in young volcanic soils which are thin and lack a permanent water table allowing growers to control the availability of water during the growing season. The lack of a permanent water table allows winegrowers to apply appropriate water deficits to limit vegetal growth and encourage the development of smaller berries, higher color concentration, and a higher skin to juice ratios.