Alsatian vineyards have a myriad of soil types. The land is a geologic mosaic; granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and the local pink sandstone – grés de Vosges – can be found throughout the region. Although the soil structure varies greatly from village to village, the steeper mountain slopes are generally composed of schist, granite and volcanic sediment. The lower slopes sit on a limestone base, and the plain at the base of the mountains consists of richer alluvial clay and gravel soils. Reflection on soil type is critical in consideration of the appropriate grape variety.