albariza
noun
al·ba·ri·za
ˌäl-bə-ˈrē-sə
: a white, chalky soil of southwestern Spain in which wine grapes for sherry are grown
The region's unique chalky soil, called albariza, is rich in calcium carbonate, clay and silica, which sucks up each winter's rainfall and in turn nourishes the vines during the dry, hot summer.—Laurie Levy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2000
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