terra rossa, red-brown loam or clay directly over well-drained limestone found typically in regions with a mediterranean climate. Such soils are found in southern Europe (in Spain’s La mancha, for example), North Africa, and parts of Australia. The quality of many wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes grown at Coonawarra in south australia is said to owe much to the terra rossa soils there. However, similar soils are found in Australia’s inland irrigated districts, associated with much lower quality wines.
