terroir

[ ter-wahr; French ter-war ]

noun

1. the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma:

   the high quality of the region’s terroir.

2. Also called goût de ter·roir [goo, d, uh, ter-, wahr, good, uh, te, r, -, war]. the unique flavor and aroma of a wine that is attributed to the growing environment of the grapes.
3. the conditions in which a food is grown or produced and that give the food its unique characteristics:

   grass-fed beef with an Idaho terroir.

terroir

/ tɛrwar /

noun

1. winemaking the combination of factors, including soil, climate, and environment, that gives a wine its distinctive character

Word History and Origins

Origin of terroir¹

From French: literally, “soil, land”

Word History and Origins

Origin of terroir¹

literally: soil

Example Sentences

The name itself hints at the vineyard’s incredible terroir — fossil-rich soils and the old dinosaur-era oil rigs surrounding it.

From Salon

For many, the concept of terroir is often limited to wine.

From Salon

Did you know that the subtleties within soy sauce can also be attributed to terroir?

From Salon

And the region has benefited from the cannabis industry capitalizing on the terroir that makes the wine taste so good.

From Los Angeles Times

Together, these cheeses encapsulate the terroir of their respective origins, allowing diners to savor the fleeting beauty of seasonal flavors long after spring has passed.

From Salon