Decoding soil influence on wine composition: linking pedological classification and metabolomic expression within terroir

Abstract

The influence of soil on wine composition is a cornerstone of terroir science, yet its functional understanding remains limited. This study tests the hypothesis that formal soil classification systems, such as WRB and Soil Taxonomy, encode pedogenetic processes that shape grapevine metabolism and, ultimately, wine chemistry. The aim is to assess the functional relevance of soil classification systems in relation to wine metabolomic profiles and to explore their potential integration into terroir modelling. To this end, eight vineyard soils from a Mediterranean viticultural district were fully characterized, taxonomically classified, and linked to the chemical composition of corresponding wines through multivariate statistical analyses. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) revealed that specific diagnostic elements, particularly those reflecting horizon architecture, carbonate accumulation, and texture, are associated with distinctive metabolomic signatures, especially in phenolic and aromatic compounds. These findings suggest that soil classification may convey process-based information with interpretive value for terroir science. Beyond empirical evidence, this study introduces SCORE‑V, a factorial conceptual model that formalizes the combined influence of Soil, Climate, Organisms, Relief, Ecosystem history, and Viti-vinicultural practices on wine composition. Inspired by Jenny’s state-factor equation of soil formation, SCORE‑V redefines terroir as an emergent property of interacting environmental and management components. It provides a theoretical and operational scaffold for integrating pedological knowledge into a systemic and dynamic interpretation of terroir functionality.

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