terroir

noun

ter·​roir ˌter-ˈwär How to pronounce terroir (audio)
: the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character

Examples of terroir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are no chemicals, no irrigation—the Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are a pure reflection of their terroir. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024 Get a taste of the terroir at one of Kefalonia's Robola vineyards. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024 The discussions delve into Napa Valley terroir, winemaking, and the distinct qualities of each wine. Shivani Vora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 This homage to Mexican materials and terroir was important to Casa Dragones’s CEO, Bertha González Nieves, who created the label with MTV founder Bob Pittman in 2009. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for terroir 

Word History

Etymology

French, land, country, stretch of land in reference to its agricultural features, from Old French tieroir, from Vulgar Latin *terratorium, alteration of Latin territorium

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of terroir was in 1863

Dictionary Entries Near terroir

Cite this Entry

“Terroir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terroir. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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