Terroir

A term coined in France and largely internalised there for the influence of origin, climate and soil type in interaction with the grape varieties and local wine culture on the special and unmistakable typicity or characteristics of the wine growing there. This can only be translated inadequately with environment, but means much more. The art of the winemaker also plays a considerable role, in that he takes into account the special conditions of his vineyard when making wine. An apt definition comes from the well-known winery owner Bruno Prats:

The French term terroir covers all natural conditions that influence the biology of the vine and, consequently, the composition of the grape itself. Terroir is the meeting of climate, soil and landscape, the interaction of an infinite number of factors: Night and day temperatures, rainfall distribution, sunshine hours, slope inclination and soil permeability, just to name a few. All these factors react with each other and form in every single part of a wine-growing area what the French winemaker calls Terroir.

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Terroir

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