Monday, April 14, 2014

What is Terroir?


Terroir is a French expression which does not have a simple definition.  Terroir applies to the influence that the overall natural environment of a vineyard has on the final product – the wine. Climate, the slope of a microlocation, the structure (composition) of the soil, insulation, ventilation… -all of these are factors that give the wine characteristics of the location or terroir. Such environmental impact on the wine is generally unrepeatable, or unique. All good winemakers are trying to preserve the trace of terroir in their wines, and in that way to exploit the most of what nature has given them.

A man can recognize the terroir in the same way that he can recognize a person:  by the look of the face,  sound of the voice, the way that he/she smells, movements and gestures!
C. Howell

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