terroirs
Grape-growing environments matter
Terroirs is the plural of terroir, a French term for the complete natural environment in which a wine is produced—the soil, climate, topography, and surrounding vegetation that give a wine its distinctive character.
The concept extends beyond wine to other products shaped by place: the terroirs of Burgundy versus Bordeaux, coffee terroirs of Ethiopia.
Terroir implies that location imparts flavors no winemaker can replicate elsewhere.
Grape-growing estate
- appellationName or title given
- cruClassified wine origin
- vintageQuality from past eras
- sommelierTrained wine service professional
winemaker · grape · soil · climate · microclimate · domaine · chateau · minerality
Ground matter for planting
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- chalkSoft sedimentary writing stone
- slateFissile metamorphic rock
granite · marl · schist · sandstone · alluvial · volcanic · subsoil · bedrock
Indefinite bounded area
- placePosition or location
- originStarting point or source
- localityA particular geographic area
- landscapeVisible features of terrain
hillside · valley · plateau · riverside · altitude · latitude · aspect · provenance
Rock-derived character in taste
- earthinessUnpretentious, primal quality
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
- complexityState of being complicated
nuance · salinity · flinty · chalky · stony · taste · palate · mouthfeel
vineyard
Grape-growing estate
- appellationName or title given
- cruClassified wine origin
- vintageQuality from past eras
sommelier · winemaker · grape · soil · climate · microclimate · domaine · chateau · minerality · slope
soil
Ground matter for planting
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- chalkSoft sedimentary writing stone
slate · granite · marl · schist · sandstone · alluvial · volcanic · subsoil · bedrock · mineral
region
Indefinite bounded area
landscape · hillside · valley · plateau · riverside · altitude · latitude · aspect · provenance · designation
minerality
Rock-derived character in taste
- earthinessUnpretentious, primal quality
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
complexity · nuance · salinity · flinty · chalky · stony · taste · palate · mouthfeel · finish
cheese
Fermented milk solid
honey · whisky · sake · mezcal · saffron · truffle · oyster · ham · salt · tobacco
terroirsplacelessness
Lack of distinctive locale
mass production · industrial production · standardization · uniformity · factory farming