French term for the growing conditions of a vineyard, including soil, elevation, climate, slope, and a variety of other factors.

The term used to describe the macro, meso and micro-climate effects on an individual vineyard’s character. e.g. The climate-sun, wind and water. The site aspect, soil type and slope. The vine shading, cluster/berry shape and size, pruning method and clone. Hit the "BACK" button on your browser to return to previous page

French term with no translation to describe the characteristics of a defined area. That includes soil, underground, exposure, climate and local traditions.

Meaning "soil"; a term for the effect of the land on a wine. Without a direct English equivalent, this word specifically refers to the consistent, distinctive qualities in a wine that are not due to grape variety, specific weather fluctuations or the skills of the grower and winemaker. Soil composition and drainage, elevation and slope, exposure to sun as well as micro- and mesoclimate all contribute to terroir. It is an elusive quality, better captured by some wines than others, but it plays a large role in defining specific geographic wine regions. French Wine Terms- Dallas Bartenders; Beverage Catering

soil or earth; general physical ernvironment of the vineyard

(Tehr-wahr) - Literally "soil" in French, a term widely used by wine hobbyists (sometimes as gout de terroir) in reference to the flavors and aromas that soil and geography impart to a wine.

The climate, geology, aspect, soil type, rainfall and myriad other factors which are believed to influence the quality of a wine via the grapes from which it is fermented.

French term describing the interaction of soil, climate, topography and grape variety in a specific site, imprinting the wine and making each wine from a specific site distinct

a group of lands from a certain region, belonging to a specific vineyard, and sharing the

a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes

see soil

A French term used to describe the growing environment including the soil, drainage, exposure, micro-climate and other factors that make a site unique and different than another place.

A small, rather yappy breed of dog; 'Toto' in The Wizard of Oz was a Terroir. Not going for it, huh? Okay, then, you asked for it... Terroir is a French concept that means something like 'microclimate.' Basically, when used by geeks, it's the notion that there is an individual character to grapes (and hence wines) grown in different locations, different soils, temperature, elevation, and so on, and that the expression of this character (letting the vineyard show through) is the highest goal in winemaking, rather than obscuring the individual character of the wine with winemaking tricks, lots of new oak, heavy filtration, etc. Got it? Good, because this is going to be on the final exam.

A French word that refers to the influence that the combination of soil, climate, and situation have on the flavor of a wine.

A French term, encompassing the geology and ecology of a specific vineyard site (soil, topography, and climate) and how they affect the grapes that are grown on that site.

a French term referring to all the characteristics of one particular vineyard and how they are reflected in the wine from that site.

The French concept that the flavor and character of a wine will reflect the soils, climate and situation of its origin. Each individual growing site is said to have its own terroir or character that can be distinguished from another.

lacking a good translation in English, this is a French word which encompasses the many (usually natural) facets which make a wine (or cheese) unique. The soil, certainly, but also things like the sunshine and winds might be encompassed in this sweeping term.

French term that defines the harmonic relationship between vineyard site, soil, climate and grape variety

usually translated as "native soil" - a concept of crucial importance in Burgundy where the variability of the soil over quite short distances is the main reason for the plethora of Burgundian appellations and where bringing out the linkage between a product (such as wine) and its "home ground" is the aim of every wine-maker.

A French concept that is difficult to translate, but which is frequently used in wine discussions. The full term, gôut de terroir, generally means the total characteristics of a vineyard location that combine to create a unique "taste of place." The idea is that each grape growing site has its own particular set of circumstances - elevation, aspect, topography, soil composition, wine, rail, sunlight hours, etc. - that combine to create a unique character that can be tasted in the wines grown from that spot. Further, terroir is neither good nor bad, but is indigenous to the spot where the grapes were grown - it is just as possible to have a terroir that is unpleasant as I is to have one that is good. The idea, then, is for the grower to find terroirs that produce appealing wines. Unfortunately, most people feel that terroir doesn't truly show itself in a vineyard until the vines reach a certain age, or until the roots of the vines grow deep enough to be in contact with the bedrock. Though a controversial concept in American winegrowing, ity has proven particularly appealing in the northwest.

refers to all of the elements in nature that influence the character of the fruit: soil, subsoil, microclimate, mesoclimate, drainage, elevation, sun exposure, and prevailing winds. The varietal character of a wine is strongly influenced by the local terroir, which begins to explain why a Napa Valley Chardonnay may seem different from a Chardonnay grown in another region or country.

A French word reflecting the expression in a wine of the soil, climate, and farming methods of a vineyard site.

(french): at its simplest, the worde means "soils", but winemakers use it to refer to the differing types of soil, climate, drainage and position of a vineyard.

A French term (now used internationally) which encompasses all the natural elements that have an effect on a wine's aromatic and flavor profile. These elements include soil, subsoil (geological strata), climate, exposure to sun, and wild yeast.

Describes all the influences on the flavors in the wine that come from where the vines grow, especially soil, climate, slope, the aspect of the slope. There is no exact translation in English, but 'terroir' is an important concept in the expression of the origin of wine.

French term that describes the unique personality of a vineyard, encompassing all elements including temperature, soil, atmosphere, wind, and just about everything else present where the grapes are growing. Terroir is the defining component in very expensive, rare wines such as First Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy.

Ah!…ask the French and this is pretty much all you need to know about wine, but the reality is that terroir simply means the characteristics of the particular land on which the grapes were grown. The most important of these include, but are not limited to: region, soil composition, drainage, slope or steepness, elevation, micro-climate, and so on. As one might assume, the extreme demand for the great wines of Napa Valley, Burgundy and Bordeaux have everything to do with this simple word. One must keep in mind that terroir is only one component of a wine's characteristics, even though it may be one of the most important as well.

A French word with no exact English translation. It refers to everything involved in growing the grape vine, soil, climate, how much water the vine gets, the topographical area the vine is planted in, and how much sunlight the vine receives.

French term for the particular environment in which a wine originates. It refers to the physical elements, for example soil, climate and topography.

This is what I feel is the most important term in wine making. It covers all the physical conditions surrounding a vineyard. This means the soil, climate, drainage, exposure to the sun, etc. This and the wine maker determines whether a wine will be good or bad.

Having a taste of the earth or soil. Gout de terroir describes the characteristic aromas and flavors of wine from grapes grown in a particular vineyard or region, incorporating the contributions of both soil and climate to the wine's unique style.

French for "soil", the physical and geographical characteristics of a particular vineyard site that give the resultant wine its unique properties.

French word reflecting the expression of soil, topography and climate in a wine

(tair-wah'r) While this literally means "soil" in French, it has many more implications. It may also be used to mean the surrounding weather patterns such as the english language term "microclimate." For some the term may mean how typical the wine is of the region the "expression of terrior." Like many French wine tasting terms this one has been adopted by English speaking wine professionals, although it is no more easily defined when used in English. It is often used in conjunction with the French word for "taste" as in "gout de terroir."

(France) There is much discussion of terroir, a French term which has no simple translation into English. It refers to the external influences on the ripening grapes, including the soils (depth and type), bedrock, exposure to sun and wind, water table and so on. Others include rootstock (really an intrinsic part of the vine, even if it is grafted) and local climate (undoubtedly an influence on the vine, but I feel separate from terroir). For more on terroir read about my visit to Château Pierre- Bise.

The total natural enviroment of a vineyard including geographical location, climate, soil, aspect and anything else over which man has no control.

Terroir is French for terrain, or more specifically, special place. It refers to all the things that identify a grape-growing region, like climate, wind direction, humidity, soil type, drainage, etc.

Earth or soil, used in the special sense of "place," which includes localised climate, soil type, drainage, wind direction, humidity and all the other attributes which combine to make one location different from another.

(French) a winemaking theory that the soil types in a vineyard can affect the flavor of the grapes.

The French word to describe particular characteristics of a vineyard or even part of a vineyard. These characteristics are the microclimate, soil, topography and the effects each of these elements have on each other.

(tear-wah) The "sense of place" component that seems apparent in a wine's aromas or flavors. The term is used to generally describe nuances imparted by soil and climatic factors in certain wine-growing regions. Should not be confused with TERRIER.

The over all environment within which a given varietal grows. Derived from the French word for Earth, "Terre."

French language term for all the characteristics of the vineyard site thought to be imparted to a particular wine. It is a term that includes geographic, geological, climatic and other attributes that can affect an area of growth as small as a few square metres (see also earthy, flinty).

The unique topography and growing environment of a region (i.e. soil, sun exposure, etc.)

The French term for that elusive combination of soil type and microclimate that gives wines their character.

Terroir ( in French) was originally a French term in wine and coffee appreciation used to denote the special characteristics of geography that bestowed individuality upon the food product. It can be very loosely translated as "a sense of place" which is embodied in certain qualities, and the sum of the effects that the local environment has had on the manufacture of the product. Terroir is often italicized in English writing to show that it is a French loanword, although many now regard it as a word naturalized into English.