Silver-white, shiny, medium-soft metal (Fe = ferrum), which is the fourth most common element in the earth's crust, accounting for just under 5%. Iron is a vital trace element for almost all organisms. All vertebrates need it as a component of haemoglobin (the pigment in red blood cells). It is rarely found in the soil in its pure form, but mostly in the bound form of sulphide and oxide iron minerals such as magnetic ironstone, red ironstone, brown ironstone and spar ironstone. Iron is present in large quantities in many soils.
The frequently occurring iron oxides give soils their characteristic reddish colour. Such soil types are known in viticulture as terra rossa and in the German-speaking world as Rotliegendes (Rotliegend). The Australian wine-growing region of Coonawarra is characterised by this type of soil. The single vineyard Scharlachberg in the German wine-growing region of Rheinhessen was also given its name due to its scarlet red colour.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena