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 that grows there. This can only be poorly translated as environment, but means much more. The winemaker 's art also plays a significant role, as he takes the special conditions of his vineyard into account when making wine and adds his own personal touch through his experience, preferences and convictions.
An apt definition comes from the well-known vineyard owner Bruno Prats: " The French term terroir encompasses all the natural conditions that influence the biology of the vine and, consequently, the composition of the grape itself. Terroir is the combination of climate, soil and landscape, the interaction of an infinite number of factors: Night and day temperatures, rainfall distribution, hours of sunshine, slope inclination and soil permeability, just to name a few. All of these factors interact with each other and form what French winegrowers call terroir in each individual part of a winegrowing region.
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien