terroir

American  

[ter-wahr, ter-war] / tɛrˈwɑr, tɛrˈwar /

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 terroir.  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.

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terroir British  

/ tɛrwar /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of terroir

From French: literally, “soil, land”

Example Sentences

Yet it is one measure of Chillida’s achievement that he evokes his native terroir through the most advanced aesthetic ideas of his time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025

"Cheese must reflect its terroir; it must be balanced in terms of taste, aroma and flavour," said French judge Laurent Dubois.

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

"Chapoutier has been making wine for more than 200 years, very terroir driven, and biodynamic," he says.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

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

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2024

Mon ouvrage est une production essentiellement allemande, et ce caractère même, j'en suis sûr, loin de m'en plaindre lui donne le goût du terroir.

From Personal Recollections, from Early Life to Old Age, of Mary Somerville by Somerville, Mary