Terroir

A Story Of 'Place'
Terroir is the quintessential French term to intimidate wine beginners, describing how a wine’s character is shaped by its place of origin. Traditionally, this meant the influence of natural factors like soil, climate, topography, and even the vineyard’s aspect or elevation. These elements combine to give wines from different sites their unique personality.

What Terroir Encompasses
In recent decades, the definition of terroir has broadened. Many now include not just the physical environment, but also the human element: vineyard practices, local traditions, and winemaking choices. For example, whether a producer uses stainless steel or oak, native or cultured yeasts, or specific pruning methods can all influence the final wine.

Terroir as a Marketing Tool
For consumers, terroir is often presented as a mark of authenticity or uniqueness, but it can also be a marketing tool. It's a story connecting soil to glass. The word appears on countless wine labels and in tasting notes, sometimes used to justify higher prices or to add mystique to a bottle. In reality, even wines from the same vineyard can taste very different depending on how they’re made, so the promise of terroir is not always straightforward.

Should You Worry About Terroir?
Terroir is a fascinating concept for those who love to dig into the details of wine, but for most wine lovers, I believe it’s more important to focus on what you enjoy in the glass. The term is often more meaningful to winemakers and critics than to everyday wine lovers and I personally (although having experience and a good understanding of it) try to avoid it when talking wine.

To Sum It All Up...
Terroir is about the connection between wine and place, but its meaning is fluid and sometimes overused. Enjoy the story if it adds to your experience, but don’t feel pressured to chase terroir. The best wine is the one you love, no matter where it’s from.