Recently I received several requests to explain this topic in more depth. So here is a clear take on wine terroir meaning, one of the most discussed concepts in the wine world.
You have probably heard the word during a tasting. If it still feels unclear, that is normal. Even experienced tasters debate what terroir really includes.
What is wine terroir?
The word, as you can imagine, comes from France and it has been indeed the French who started to recognise the importance of terroir. It means how the enviromental factors of a region such as the climate, soil and the aspect affect the wine and the taste of the wine.
These elements interact and influence how grapes grow and how the final wine tastes.
Climate and its impact on wine
When we talk about different wine regions, usually we think of different grape varieties but the other aspects are just as important.
Climate for example is a very important factor which can vary between cold and warm but even continental to mediterranean. It will all give different characteristic to the wine and we haven’t talked about micro-climate yet which you can find in particular vineyards and slopes.
Just to give an example of the importance of the climate: in a cool climate wines tend to be lower alcohol because the grapes are not as ripe like on a warm climate region and the same goes for the acidity, cold climate wines have higher acidity then warm climate because of the longeur and intensity of ripening and sunshine hours in each climate.
This is something that you can taste easier in a wine, means usually an advanced taster can tell on a blind tasting if the wine comes from a cool or a warm climate region.
Soil, geology, and structure
Soil is a more difficult thing to detect in the wine during tasting, it is not as straight forward than a climate. There are hundreds of different types of soils but just a few of them that we sort as the main types for winemaking. These soil types has different compositions which will affect the fertility, the drainage and the ability to retain the heat.
I would put here the geograpy as a factor because if the vineyard or region is next to a big body of water like a river or lake or on a vulcan (vulcanic soil) or in a valley it will all affect the structure of the wine.
Sometimes you can taste this differences in the glass, usually when you call the wine mineral most of the times you refer of this small nuances of different soil types, like in Chablis for example the chalky minerality comes from the limestone soil.
Altitude and exposure
An other important thing worth to mention is the altitude of the regions and vineyards which makes an increasing importance specially in the New World.
As we know, higher the altitude, lower the temperature in a particular region which now makes possible to plant a vineyard closer to the equator without the fear of burning the vines. Instead the cool breezes will enhance the acidity in the grape but because the higher amount of sunshine it will ripen fully and give amazingly balanced wines.
A well-known example is Salta, home to some of the highest vineyards in the world.
Human influence as part of terroir
There is one more element of this equasion which is the winemaking and viticultural traditions of the region. Terroir is not only natural factors. Human decisions also play a role.
This includes:
- grape variety selection
- vine density
- vineyard management (organic, biodynamic, conventional)
- harvest timing
- fermentation and ageing choices
In regions like Mosel, steep slopes, tradition, and vineyard work are inseparable from the final wine style.
That aspect maybe a bit less confusing but just as important!
Why wine terroir meaning matters
Understanding terroir helps explain why wines taste different even when made from the same grape variety.
It is also the basis of blind tasting. Experienced tasters can often identify climate or origin based on structure and flavour profile.
As you can see this is a subject that can easily fill up a whole book but now I just wanted to give a brief introduction to clear up the meaning of this expression. I hope you find it useful and not more confusing!
Have you tasted this differences in your glass before?
The Author
A good explanation in a way that is not too techie and that can be understood whatever one’s level of knowledge or enthusiasm about wine
Thank you Jiles, that was my aim, I am happy that it had worked!
A brilliant read, Eniko 🤗
Thank you Daniel, I am glad you liked it!