Terroir (/tɛrˈwɑːr/; French: [tɛʁwaʁ]; from terre, lit. 'lands') is a French term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop's phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop's specific growth habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character.[1]
Some artisanal crops and foods for which terroir may apply include wine, cheese, coffee, single malt whisky, onions, and tea.
Terroir is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for wine appellation and regulation in France and around the world. The AOC system presumes that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that growing site (the plants' habitat). The extent of terroir's significance is debated in the wine industry.[2]
- ^ Tanzer, Stephen. "What is terroir?". Stephen Tanzer's Winophilia. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ Robinson, J., ed. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 693–695. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.