Vidal, Seyval, Muller Thurgau, etc . The rootstock provides the plant root system and sources of absorption of nutrients from the soil. Rootstock selection is an important factor in viticulture. They have unromantic names like AxR-1, 3309C, SO4. These different rootstocks have different characteristics, such as their vigor and their suitability to varying soils.
Clones are a variety within a variety.
Some favor high yields, others special flavors. Matching the right rootstock to the right varietal clone and the right vineyard location is important to the future of winemaking . The soil plays a significant role in the life of the vines. For the soil, verification of minerals, drainage, and compaction are all important factors. One of the best fertilizers is the leftover from crush, i.e. the skins, pits and stems which are composted, mixed with mulch, and spread on the vineyard rows.