The mountain has also been quarried for “conglomerate”—a sedimentary rock composed of gravel and pebbles—which was used to construct fortifications, dwellings, and religious buildings. Sandstone beds are visible in some areas, while marly strata lie at a depth of 20 to 30 meters.

A distinctive feature is the “red earth” (*terra rossa*); this indicates the presence of calcareous soils and arises from a combination of clay elements and iron oxide. The area’s abundant water resources and fertile soil were harnessed and organized to reach their full potential under Benedictine and Cluniac monasticism, a period when the morainic agricultural lands and the adjacent plains were divided into farmsteads. It is precisely these favorable conditions, combined with the soil’s mineral content, that give the local wines their unique character.