The term “terroir” comes from French and describes a complex interplay of different factors in the vineyard. Literally translated, it would mean “region,” but as I said, that doesn’t really fit.
It is about the interaction of all the factors that determine the location of the vine. The soil and its composition, the climate, the weather conditions, geographical and biological characteristics. All factors work together and ultimately make the wine what it is.
Which soil factors have an impact?
Rock type, density and water storage capacity play an important role in soil.
For example, soil with a high clay content is very dense, heavy and has a high water retention capacity. In this case, the vines have to expend a lot of energy to penetrate the soil with their roots, but they do not have to penetrate as deeply because the water supply is always well guaranteed.
Slate, for example, is a loose, permeable soil. The slate plates lie on top of each other like a “sea of broken glass”. Rainwater seeps down far and is not stored in the upper layers of the earth. The vines therefore have to penetrate many meters into the earth to the level of the groundwater in order to ensure their water supply.
From the location of a vineyard
Are the vineyards steep or flat? Do they face south or east? Are they in a wind corridor, on the edge of the forest or near the sea? Do the vineyards tend to be exposed to the less strong morning sun or the warm midday and evening sun?
These factors make a huge difference to the microclimate in the vineyard. For example, a steep vineyard leads to more sunlight in the grape zone. A flat vineyard leads to a more even water distribution.
Windy locations ensure that the grapes dry quickly after rain, thus minimizing the risk of rot, but also making the berry skins more robust. In forest clearings, on the other hand, it is sometimes cooler, but also more protected.
In addition, there are influencing factors such as hours of sunshine, amounts of precipitation and also the altitude of the vineyards.
Conclusion
In the end, the craftsmanship of the winemaker is crucial to creating a good wine To do this, the first step is to select the right type of wine for the given terroir. In addition, the cultivation and care of the vineyards must be individually adapted to the existing environment.
And if you train your sense of taste a little, you can actually detect the terroir in the wine taste: for example, the mineral soils or the warm locations.
Conclusion: all factors that are naturally present in a vineyard, over which the winemaker has no influence, but which have a significant effect on the wine, are considered to be terroir.
