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

See Examples For:

terroir

Meadows says no one has deciphered why the vineyard produces such exquisite wines, but it is some combination of terroir, or environment, as well as 2,000 years of trial and error by the region’s winemakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

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

The Thai team prides itself on being single-origin specialists, showcasing each region’s unique cocoa terroir.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2025

But not all wines have to be terroir wines, and there's room for wines like this.

From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2025