Geology of Quoketaug Hill

After purchasing our land, we did tests to determine if the land was suitable for grape growing. The soils in Connecticut tend to be acidic, with the exception of land located in the northwest corner of Connecticut, which is surprisingly alkaline.
This property is located on the southeast corner of Connecticut, very near the Rhode Island border. A soil test conducted in July, 2009 showed the pH of the field topsoil and subsoil to be 5.3 indicating that liming of the soil to raise the pH to a more neutral level is desirable. The soils on this property are designated as Paxton and Montauk derived from glacial till comprised of schist, gneiss, and granite and creates a sandy loam soil texture of 64.2% sand, 25.2% silt, and 10.6% clay. Although this composition allows for good drainage of rainwater, some tiling may be necessary due to a firm substratum that may restrict root growth.
We went to vineyard owners located near our property and asked if they had tiled their vineyards. Jonathan Edwards told us that he tiled his vineyard and that it was essential for water drainage so that the grape vine roots do not get "cold feet" in our climate which can often times be prone to periods of abundant rainfall.