terroir

[ ter-wahr; French ter-war ]

/ tɛrˈwɑr; French tɛrˈwar /

noun

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.

Also called goût de ter·roir [goo duh ter-wahr; gooduh ter-war] /ˈgu də tɛrˈwɑr; gudə tɛrˈwar/. the unique flavor and aroma of a wine that is attributed to the growing environment of the grapes.

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.

Nearby words

territoriality, territorialize, territorian, territory, territory wool, terroir, terror, terror-stricken, terrorism, terrorist, terrorize

Origin of terroir

< French: literally, ‘soil, land’

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for terroir

So I was happy to see that the European theory of terroir was in action, promoting with pride the qualities of a specific region.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These are the standard selling points of the craft-distilling movement, with its locavore lingo, terroir talk, and handmade hype.
Your ‘Craft’ Rye Whiskey Is Probably From a Factory Distillery in Indiana|Eric Felten|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, cheeses can have terroir just as wine can, but when it comes to cheese, regionality is oftentimes overlooked.
Elegy to Italian Cheese|Jesse Dart|May 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
But the real identity of these cheeses lies not in their names, but in the terroir, in their origin.
Elegy to Italian Cheese|Jesse Dart|May 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The methods of production used in the U.S., although correct, abandon the entire idea of terroir and regionality.
Elegy to Italian Cheese|Jesse Dart|May 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for terroir

terroir

/ French (tɛrwar) /

noun

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

Word Origin for terroir

literally: soil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012