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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, noun derivative from feminine of albarizo "whitish, off-white," from albar "white" + -izo, attenuating suffix

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

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