All across America, Shakespeare Festivals have gain popularity. Most are outdoor theaters with areas for picnic before or during the performances. Two festivals that I attended in California have small cafes that provide picnic or deli style foods and drinks for those that don't want to carry their own picnic baskets. Foods like Panini and potato chips or Italian subs. However, the majority of festivals organizers like those in Delaware and Maryland will tell their audiences to bring their own baskets of goodies to enjoy. This presents an opportunity to explore delightful finger foods.

Having lived in Britain and attended Shakespearean plays in the theaters of the author's birth city of Stratford upon Avon and in London, I decided my picnic for a group of Shakespeare fans needed to be as English as the author. I began my culinary journey by remembering those trips, and the great British gardens and the wonderful eloquent meals I enjoyed. I began researching English picnic ideas and found that the perfect picnic was the English High Tea. As Alice Walker, another author put it - “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.” Learning how the English hosts tea both indoors and out on their garden patios provided many delicious recipes for tea sandwiches and tarts.

The perfect picnic meal is a rare accomplishment; however, arranging a picnic of tea sandwiches that are ideal for transport, the picnic can only be successful. There are many variations of tea sandwiches, such as Boursin cheese spread with cucumber slices, smoked turkey breast, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes, or egg salad sandwiches, all with crust trimmed and cut into special shapes. With the tea sandwiches as the main entree, I needed to choose other menu items that would compliment. Items to include on a tea picnic menu should be grapes, apples, cheese, water crackers, and shortbread cookies or fruit tarts. Lastly, I wanted to pair the menu with a nice wine. Traditionally, an English tea has a black tea and sherry aperitif. However, since this menu was for a picnic dinner at a Shakespeare play, I wanted to include a chilled semi-sweet white wine.

If you are planning a picnic for a Shakespeare festival or any other festival where you want to tailgate or picnic, try out this menu. Get creative with your theme and most of -- enjoy!

Picnic Menu

• Brie and water crackers
• Grapes
• Curried Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
• Spicy Chicken salad Tea Sandwiches
• Shortbread Cookies
• Strawberry Tarts
• Chilled Dry Riesling Wine

The Picnic Basket

• Salt and pepper
• Flatware - light sliver, never plastic
• Good plastic plates and cup or Tin
• Good plastic or silver wine glasses
• Tablecloth and napkin linens
• Pillows and a blanket
• Corkscrew
• Candles and matches - I have tea light lanterns that provides for a great romance

Curried Egg Salad Tea Sandwich

Ingredients

• 6 hardboiled eggs
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• ½ tsp curry powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 12 slices of thin white bread, crust removed
• 1 tbsp chopped chives

Method

1. Chop eggs into a small bowl, mast with a fork.
2. Stir in mayonnaise and curry powder.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cut bread into shapes with cookie or biscuit cutters.
5. Spread the bottom slices with the egg salad mixture.
6. Dip sandwich edge in the chives.

I could spend a lot of time telling you how to get to Europe and do it on the cheap; but frankly, I think most of us, even the Europe travel diehards, are planning to "do America first," this year; and perhaps for the foreseeable future.

Here are 5 spots to visit in our own hemisphere that will provide a pleasurable get-away. These 5 just happen to be in California.

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Whether you are an East-coaster or a west-coaster, a trip to California will provide a variety of vacation categories. If you like crowded freeways, smog and high temperature in summer, then Los Angeles may be your thing. But California is so much more than Hollywood and crowded L.A. beaches. I need to add a disclaimer here; I am a Californian, but there are some beautiful areas to visit, with lots of outdoor activities or city entertainment without having to cross into southern California, at all.

San Francisco Bay Area

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The San Francisco Bay Area is beautiful. The city itself is one of my favorite in the entire world, if I may say so myself. You could spend two weeks in the City by the Bay and never get to see and do everything on your agenda. From Golden Gate Park to world-class shopping, San Francisco has it all.

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I recommend a hotel near or on Union Square. From this point, you can walk to great restaurants, shopping venues, Theatres and more. Hotels here are a bit pricey. Forego the St. Francis; Try the Hyatt on the Square for a less pricey stay. The Hilton on O'Farrell is also not so pricey. Be sure you get a room in the main, or old tower. Some of these rooms offer views of the Bay and/or Golden Gate Bridges. Off-season, (not summer) rooms are reasonable for San Francisco. The Prescott is one of my old favorites in this area and a travel bargain for San Francisco. Wolfgang Puck's Postrio Restaurant is attached to the Prescott's lobby.

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A day spent in Golden Gate Park with a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden and the Steinhart Aquarium is a must. Have a picnic in the park, stroll to the Conservatory of Flowers where rare plants are housed in a glass building that is one of the most memorable of San Francisco's landmarks. The DeYoung Museum features world-class exhibits, visit the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco for information on all of San Francisco's museums.

Wine Country

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Napa Valley/Sonoma, Northern California Wine Country is a fabulous area to visit. From San Francisco, The northern wine country is just a 45-minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. We enjoyed our last visit so much that we plan to take the entire family this summer; a cottage rental, perhaps, will be in order...something with a pool because this area can be very hot in summer. The best times to travel to the Napa wine country would be in spring or in fall. But if you like warm weather, summers are very nice but hot.

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Most wineries have complementary wine tasting. The knowledgeable folks who pour will give you a real education in the science and enjoyment of fine wines. The California Wine industry is the world's largest, by value, according to the California Wine Institute. For my money, give me a good California Chardonnay and I'm a very happy girl. The French can keep their whites; except for the champagnes, of course.

Consider the Wine train for an unforgettable wine experience including meals on board, if you wish. Check their website for seasonal rates and event packages.

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Many of the Wineries, tasting rooms and their properties are so beautiful that the whole family will enjoy visiting. Bring your designated driver, however. The local police have very little tolerance for drunk drivers.

As in San Francisco, you can pay just about whatever you want to pay for accommodations in the Northern California wine country. The further you get from the wineries, the more you will spend for a hotel or inn room. Try Petaluma hotels for a bit of a bargain, in Napa, the New Meritage Resort and Spa Terra is very nice for a mid-range Hotel. The spa is fabulous. Check my review here.

The Central Coast

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I live on the Central Coast of California, and I truly believe I live in the most beautiful place on Earth. (It takes a really enticing out of town trip to get my husband and I off of our deck and away from Carmel; why leave when Carmel is so amazing?) Carmel is the focal point of the central coast. Once an artist colony, still an enclave of storybook cottages and a strip of white-sand beach that is drop-dead gorgeous.

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Just on the southern outskirts of Carmel is Point Lobos Preserve. Pack a lunch, hike, cycle or drive in for a small fee and spend the day with your camera shooting some of the most pristine and lovely coastline undamaged by human interference. Watch the sea lions and sea otters at play and hike the trails to get different views of the sea. You can scuba dive here, but nothing is to be disturbed or taken from its natural habitat. Looking only, no touching is the rule at Point Lobos.

Be sure to take a drive through Pebble Beach on 17-Mile-Drive. Stop off at the Lodge for a glass of wine and unobstructed views of Monterey Bay while standing in a landmark building that looks as if it stepped right out of "The Great Gadsby." If you love to golf, The Monterey Bay Area has a plethora of world class golf courses. I don't want to forget about Spanish Bay Resort. While in the "Forest," stop at Spanish bay for a beverage by the fire pits at Roy's at Spanish Bay.

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If you drive along the coast 40 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, you will enjoy spending the day in Big Sur. From high on the cliffs, enjoy lunch at Ventana Inn or Nepenthe. Perhaps not the greatest restaurants, but the views and ambiance make up for it in spades.

In nearby Pacific Grove, a scenic path begins and stretches along the oceanfront for 20 plus Miles northward past beaches, the Monterey Wharf and sand dunes farther north in the Seaside/Marina area. Cyclists and rollerbladers, as well as walkers and joggers can use the path for a good day's worth of exercise combined with sightseeing. Check Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail for information on specific scenic path routes in Monterey County.

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You might also schedule some time to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is no average aquarium. Watch sea otters, penguins, fish native to Monterey Bay and learn why The Monterey Bay is a protected sanctuary. Explore the Aquarium's website for specific information regarding hours and entry fees. Also, you may want to look into a sanctuary cruise or other educational opportunities available to you.

Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz, about 40 miles North of the Monterey Peninsula, is actually considered part of the central coast but has a flavor all it's own. Santa Cruz and Aptos have warmer summer beach weather than does the Monterey Peninsula. If surfing or other water sports are more your thing, or if you want to sunbathe on the beach, you would have better luck in the Santa Cruz area. You will want to put aside time for a stroll through the little enclave of Capitola, as well.

A trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will afford the entire family with a day of entertainment at an old-fashioned yet modernized, seaside park. There are rides as wild as the Big Dipper Rollercoaster to rides in the kiddy section for children as little as 2 years old. I'm not the theme park enthusiast, but once a year we do make a pilgrimage to the Boardwalk for the kids, and it certainly brings back memories of my own childhood with summer days spent there.

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With all of the first three vacation spots, consider the weather for the best time to visit; San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula can be foggy in summer, especially during years when the central valley of California is scorching hot. Santa Cruz, however, has early morning fog but it lifts for sunny, warm summer afternoons.

The best months to visit San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula are May and early June and also, September and Early October. These are rules of thumb; of course, I've been known to soak up the beach sun in Carmel in February, for instance.

The Sierras

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A summer vacation in Lake Tahoe will never be a disappointment. Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevadas, spans two states, California and Nevada. It is a beautiful lake, clear, blue and seemingly untouched by human destruction. If you love to boat, fish, hike, mountain bike, party or just ride the lawn chair, as I love to do, you will fall in love with Lake Tahoe.

Be forewarned that North Shore and South shore are very, very different. South Shore offers Large Hotels, Harrah's and Harvey's, just to name two, with name talent in the showrooms and 24 hour gambling, or as we like to say, 24 hours worth of chances to lose your money! But, very entertaining as your pocketbook shrinks, I must admit.

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North Shore is much more low-key with little enclaves clustered along the lake from Incline Village to Squaw Valley. For the family who wants a family-style vacation, perhaps in a vacation cabin or a condo, North shore would be more to your liking. Also, consider the VERY quiet West shore. The West Shore is less crowded, more "woodsy" with lots of old "Tahoe-style cabins." If you want a quiet retreat away from crowds and you don't care that there isn't much to do at night but vege, (sounds great to me!) look into the west shore of Lake Tahoe.

I am not a gourmet or a gourmand; however, I love to taste. Being familiar with the areas I've listed, I will give you my favorite restaurant picks in each, if any.

Monterey Peninsula: Carmel: The Rio Grill Located in the Crossroads Center, Mouth of Carmel Valley Rib Eye steak to die for on nights when it is served. The best smoked chicken with baby artichoke hearts and baby red tomatoes. Penne pasta with grilled shrimp and Creole cream sauce ... yum! But, if you don't like really spicy foods, ask them to tone it down a bit!

Bahama Billy's, located in the Barnyard, Carmel Rancho, Mouth of Carmel Valley.

I usually don't care for Jamaican/island cuisine but Billy's food is excellent. Try the Sashimi if you like sashimi, this is served wonderfully different. Lightly seared, blackened and served with a unique wasabi sauce. The Lobster bisque is also fabulous. **Billy's also has a sunny, beautiful patio for lunch.

Tarpey's Roadhouse Located on Highway 68, just outside of Monterey on the highway between Monterey and Salinas. **They get the award for best outdoor lunch patio.
Joe Rombi's La Mia Cucina Located in Pacific Grove. Locals' favorite Italian food. The delicate, light, portabella mushroom raviolis are wonderful.

The Montrio Located in Downtown Monterey is another locals' favorite. If you love prime rib, on Thursdays only, The Montrio serves the most mouth-watering roasted, then fire flamed, prime rib ever. Sauce style and accompaniment s vary but all are excellent.

When in Napa:

Brix in Napa Located on the St. Helena Highway in Yountville. Brix' s ambience is very nice, the food is awesome! We loved the New York steak cooked just the way we ordered it, and the butter leaf salad.

When In Santa Cruz/Capitola/Aptos:

I'm sorry to say that this area is a bit gastronomically challenged, save the pub-style foods that the UC students love. However, Bittersweet Bistro is the exception. Bittersweet is a beautiful little restaurant with fabulous food and wonderful service. They have a fun locals tavern-style bar with a lively crowd on "events" days. Food is also served in the pub for a more casual dinning experience if you wish.

If anyone has other suggestions for this area, I would love to hear them because Bittersweet is the only place we have found that we return to each time we are in the Santa Cruz area. Located on Rio Del Mar Blvd. in Capitola, just off Highway 1.

I'm over spending unreasonable amounts of money for a room just because an area is thought to be posh or trendy. So, after searching a bit and asking some questions, I came up with Napa's Meritage Resort and Spa Terra. Our room, a King with terrace, was just over $200 per night.

The Meritage is not in one of the "cute" areas of the wine country like, for example,Sonoma or Yountville; and it isn't in the thick of the winery tasting rooms, but it is a pretty location and a beautiful property. It is supposed to be a renovated property, but the entire resort looks as if it was newly built yesterday, rather than renovated.

As you drive up to The Meritage, the beauty of the architecture and the demeanor of the resort are immediately apparent. The weather when we arrived was windy and chilly for the time of year, so we headed indoors to the roaring fire in the lobby's lovely rock fireplace, while the staff handled the car and bags.

The lobby is classic upscale,"country-home, " and beautifully appointed with couches and comfy chairs clustered in conversation groupings. We were greeted quickly; check-in was fast and simple and our bags arrived with us to our room.

My first impression of our room was that it was pristinely clean and newly decorated. The décor was tasteful and inviting; my eye was drawn to the far end of the room, to the French doors, which led to a small terrace. We did have to fight for a terrace room, as there are not many rooms with terraces at the resort.

I have to say that the King bed was very comfortable. Although not up to the standard of the Westin's "heavenly bed," the quality was very nice and the bedding was well done. The most apparent evidence of the Meritage's remodel is found in the bathroom. Although nicely remodeled, and beautifully clean and new, the only drawback is the tub/shower combination. Otherwise, the marble and tile bath was so well done that it would be difficult to find errors typical of a remodel.

The rooms offer a complementary bottle of wine, (a nice touch!) and Bare Mineral personal products. These products were a really wonderful surprise. As Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuels are my absolute favorite makeup products, I was pleased to be able to try out their line of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.

Every room also has a small refrigerator and complementary bottled waters. After lots of wine tasting, a bit of food is a very good idea, so the refrigerator came in handy! Speaking of food; there is one restaurant on the property, and room service. I'm not sure what was up with the restaurant. It seemed to me to be understaffed and that, perhaps, since the tourist season isn't really happening yet, maybe the restaurant is not all that it will be once it is in full operation.

The people who served in the restaurant and the room-service folks try very hard to be accommodating, but the menu leaves much to be desired and they need more staff to be able to handle things more efficiently. I will look forward to seeing what improvements have been made in this department when I return next time. One staff member, a typical "guy," told us that the best thing on the menu was the burger. I was surprised, but when we did order the burger, it was FABULOUS! I'm not a burger-person, but this was Harris Ranch Beef, as I recall, and tasted more like ground steak than a burger. SO GOOD!

I have saved the best for last! My favorites of The Meritage were the Pool area, The Estate Cave Wine bar, and best of all, the Spa Terra. The pool was large, quiet and not crowded. The lounge chairs were super comfortable, and the hot tub, very nice. I did think the hot tub needed to be monitored a bit more; foam on top isn't a good thing! Management could be a bit more on their toes, here.

When I ordered lunch from the pool phone, the room-service staff seemed a little surprised. Although they did deliver my dry turkey sandwich rather quickly, it arrived wrapped in plastic wrap, not on a plate, and no condiments were on the tray. Again, management in the restaurant needs to get it together a bit more.

Directly across from the pool area is the Estate Cave and wine bar and Spa Terra. This is a beautifully done architectural achievement; the entire building which house the Spa and Cave is underground...sort of. As you look across to the Spa Terra and Estate Cave entrance from the pool, you see a huge "mount," topped with a vineyard. The designers built the spa under this vineyard mound. The design provides extra privacy for the resort as well as it is be stunningly beautiful.

As you enter the Cave, itself, through two, huge heavy oak doors, the spa entrance is to your right and the Estate Cave Wine Bar is to your left; under very, high arched ceilings that do indeed make one feel as if in an ancient wine cellar. The wine bar is lovely and the staff, friendly. You do pay, however, for a "run" of tastings. If you join the Estate Cave's wine club, tastings are complimentary.

The wine itself that is offered here is varied. Five wineries are involved and the products served here. Some are impressive, like the Trinitas, 2006, Pinot Noir, some, not so much. I'm not a wine pro, but I love and drink ONLY wines; I found the offerings nice, and after a few tastes, joined the wine club! OK, so I'm easy. I don't listen so well after a bit of the grape, so, it seems I signed up for delivery of wines with each new season. Again, I'm easy. I wondered why I gave them a credit card?....

On to the Spa Terra. The Spa Terra is fabulous. I've been to spas all over the country including Pebble Beach and the Boulders in Arizona.Spa Terra stands with the best of them and, in my opinion, much nicer than the spa at Pebble Beach.

You arrive and are checked-in and escorted to the locker room. The ladies locker room at Spa Terra was beautiful with all of the usual amenities; hair dryers, lotion, shampoos, etc. are all provided, but the showers and locker room are very, very new and sparkling clean. The robes are decadent and you are escorted to my favorite place where one waits to be picked up for one's treatments; the aromatherapy relaxation room. This room is so welcoming and relaxing in multi-shades of deep greens, that I didn't want to get out of my chenille, over-stuffed chair for my massage.

I'm so glad that I did get out of my chair, however comfortable, because the massage was wonderful...in fact, in the top two of my all-time best massages. This masseuse, David, I believe, was amazing. I was left feeling invigorated, not drained, as I sometimes do feel. I heard other people rave about their massages, also. The facial, however, out of the corner of my ear, I heard was not as wonderful. (Who gets facials on vacation, anyway? That's maintenance, far as I'm concerned!)

We were encouraged by a staff member to dine at a nearby restaurant, Brix just up the road a bit, in Yountville. It was an excellent suggestion and our meal was wonderful. Brix, it seems, is a locals favorite.

I would recommend The Meritage for those who like a nicely done resort with all of the modern amenities at a reasonable price.

 

Wine aficionados love to argue the superiority of European soils, and in particular the unique composition of France's dirt. French oenophiles have been obsessing over their vineyards for almost fifteen hundred years and so it should come as no surprise that they've now determined which type of soil is best - limestone. Most French soil is light in color, has a chalky texture and contains a lot of calcium carbonate.

Those of us with rich imaginations that have actively fantasized about owning a vineyard, have no doubt driven past a few lakefront properties near our homes and wondered "could this cornfield or this cow pasture ever be transformed into an award winning vineyard?"

If you've ever seriously thought about starting your own vineyard, you've probably looked at a few different properties and wondered about rainfall, wind breaks and southern exposure… Perhaps you've even invited experts to visit your dream properties to carefully scrutinize the soil on site before fixating on which type of grape to cultivate. The soil and the weather are the two most important factors in growing a good flavorful grape, and maturing an award winning wine.

The task of evaluating the soil on site begins by digging a one cubic meter hole. Visual observations are made of the different soil layers in relation to biological activity and mineral composition. For example, do taproot species bend in response to compact layers? Are earthworms or castings present? At what depth do soil conditions appear to be anaerobic? What is the soil structure at different soil depths?

Field tests are performed at different depths to measure the pH, the quality of the clay-humus complex and any microbial activity. The observed results are used in conjunction with laboratory analyses to come up with an overall evaluation.

In France, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines thrive in limestone soil under white, chalky outcroppings of chunky, fractured terrain - the sedimentary stone is the remains of fossilized sea matter originating in Jurassic times. The great vineyards of Champagne, Burgundy, the Loire River, and Bordeaux all have high quality limestone, which is to say they have high quantities of calcium carbonate and are therefore considerably more pH basic than other international wine regions. Everywhere limestone is found, the French observe healthier, more balanced vine growth, resulting in wines with superior depth, intensity, balance and longevity.

Cabernet Sauvignon however seems to prefer a courser more gravel strewn soil, while Riesling grapes prosper in a "slate soil", The red slate soil of the Rothenberg (Red Mountain) gives German Rieslings their wonderful mineral tastes and an exclusiveness.

In Spain, the grapes of the Porto wine region are planted exclusively in the bitumen rich soil of the Douro valley:

The Tempranillo grape, the main grape grown in Spain prospers in that country's red limestone and boulder clay. Some believe that the Tempranillo grape may in fact be the Burgundian Pinot Noir, which was transplanted to Spain many centuries ago and has since developed its own Spanish characteristics - Tempranillo grapes have thicker skins.

This isn't to say that the above mentioned grapes cannot be grown in other types of soil. Grapes will grow in a wide variety of earths, and it's generally believed that all grape vines flourish in well-drained soils with loamy to sandy surface layers over moderately permeable clay sub soils. Soils which are "crumbly" allow the expansion and aeration of the plant's roots. Abundant stones and pebbles are often found in the soils of the most successful vine growing areas, as they help to aerate the soil.

Different soils affect grapevines in different ways. The amount of water available in each soil directly affects each plant's yield and sugar content. The "water balance" is considered to be the most important factor in the choice of grapevine for each soil.

Almost as important as moisture to the growth of strong and healthy vines is the mineral composition of the soil. Excess quantities of iron can produce wines that oxidize. Where too little iron is present, or where the soil has too pH basic with lime, chlorosis will prevent the vine from thriving. Phosphorous and potassium on the other hand have an extremely positive effect on the quality of the grape, as does calcium in the form of chalk, limestone, gypsum or marl.

The fertility of the soil, so important in other crops, is less important for grapes. Too much nitrogen and organic matter can result in abundant but low quality harvests. Some vintners actually believe the vines should struggle to hold onto the soil, fight to grow, and overcome all natural local conditions - the struggle to yield fruit produces character in the grape, and flavor in the wine.

Here are the soil conditions of Europe's finest wine producing regions:

• Alsace: limestone with clay and fine-grained topsoil
• Beaujolais: granite up north, hence the likelihood of Gamay, to clay and limestone further south, nearby Lyon.
• Champagne mainly limestone.
• Cote Chalonnaise - chalk and clay.
• Cote de Beaune, likewise Cote de Nuits limestone incidentally on best spots.
• Cotes de Nuits: limestone, claystone.
• Graves and Pessac-Leognan, gravel up north to Bordeaux, and sandy to silty towards southbound tuned into boulder clay.
• Lanuedoc-Roussillon, limestone and clay topsoil.
• Maconnais - features limestone where white grapevines locate and clay and sandy as of red casts.
• Médoc - quite permeable soil that consists of gravel and sand. Scoop up a handful and you'll see that the silt and boulder clay conglomerate with fine-grained sand.
• Provence, limestone, fine-grained, clay and tar.
• Saint Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac, exist in a pattern of unstratified loam deposited by glacier, consists of sand and pebbles loam and boulder clay mixed up together. The best vineyards here are located in and around the Saint-Emilion and Pomerol/ Figeac. Here there are small weathered rocks found on topsoil.
• Sauternes/Graves / Barsac soils are predominantly clay combined with pebbles and silt.
• Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc Chablis are comprised of limestone and clay respectively.
• Barolo and Barbaresco: limestone of bluish grey hues westwards and ironed-rich sand and slate eastwards.
• Moselle bears limestone and the upper Moselle clay, in that sandy, chalk and limestone.
• Pfals: mud, sandy, limestone, boulder clay and slate.
• Piedmont: limestone and clay, sandy and pebbles.
• Trenton Alto-Adage: limestone with pebbles, sand and clay.
• Veneto: in and around Garda, fine-grained and clay, further southeast clay and limestone.
• In the Piave region it's sandy and clay upon boulders.
• Friuli, limestone or fine-grained along with boulder clay on alluvial consolidate.
• Tuscany: limestone with boulder clay and shale namely Gallestro.
• Chianti: boulder clay and bitumen and the so-called Gallestro.
• Brunello: Gallestro with boulder clay and limestone.
• Southern Italy, it's limestone with volcanic alluvial, clay, sand and silt.
• Sardinia: volcanic granite, limestone, sand, silt and boulder clay.
• Sicily: volcanic with boulder clay.
• Northern Spain highly varied from the reddish limestone of Navarre to the Rioja's and upper Pyrenees boulder clay.
• Catalonia: some limestone on the coastal regions westbound, sand in the Pyrenees and boulder clay on highlands.
• “Licorella” consists basically rudaceous rock and shale.
• Rioja: yellowish limestone and ferruginous clay.
• Aragon and Navarre: hazelnut-reddish limestone with rocky underground.
• Northeast Spain: an array of silt and limestone ferruginous sandy.
• Rivera Del Duero: clay and silt at the vicinity of the Duero River increasingly limestone by the upper ridges.
• Central Spain: boulder clay with limestone.
• Southern Spain: famous limestone Albarisa in Jerez and Mantilla - Morilez of crimson sandy.
• Northern Portugal: sodden clay, limestone richly by the Bairrada, boulder clay and slate in the Douro.
• Douro valley: grape vines for the Porto wine solely planted in bitumen rich soil.
• Central, Southern Portugal: the Estramadura region features clay and limestone.
• The Ribatejo: clay, sand and fertile alluvial soils, and therefore the Alem Tejo limestone and boulder clay.
• Madeira: volcanic with basalt gravel and red clay.