Wine Terms: Terroir

Terroir is a french word that translates to soil. For some, that might be a good enough definition. It is not just about the soil though when it comes to wine.

The french AOC or appellation d'origine controlee, is based on this idea. They believe that wine is produced by the area that a wine is grown in, not just the grape or producer. This means that it includes:
-climate
-soil types and variations
-changes in terrain
-the way the sun kisses the hillside.

To me it has always been an intimate term that is a love story in the making. A winegrower, loves his wine and the land that produces it. Why? Because wine takes on the characteristics of where it is grown.

Whether it be the berries that dot the hillside, the lavender that grows nearby or the minerals that the soil contains, wine tastes like where it grows.

This is the great advantage of drinking wine at a winery. You get to see where the wine is grown and think about the flavors you taste and where you have seen them in the surrounding countryside.

Or, if you prefer a less heady description, I cannot say it better than this:

"I like to say that Grand Cru vineyards are earth's erogenous zones. They are special places that tingle when sunlight hits them."

-Terry Thies, Wine Aficionado

Return from Wine Terms: Terroir to Wine For Beginners
Return to Wine Terms for Beginners