terroir

noun

ter·​roir ˌter-ˈwär 

: 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

This commitment to sustainability and quality ensures complete control over the production process, resulting in a bourbon that reflects the unique terroir of their land. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

One of those is Westland, a Seattle distillery (now owned by Remy Cointreau) that experiments with elements of production to highlight the effects of terroir on flavor. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2025

The growing seasons are shorter here, but the combination of hot, sunny days, whipping mountain winds, 6,800 feet of elevation, and rocky alkaline soil make for a truly interesting and unique terroir. —Alessandra Amodio, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025

The chocolate cognoscenti now taste delicate aromas and obscure flavors and compete to identify the terroir, or natural environment, where a particular batch of cocoa beans originated. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for terroir

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• ansar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar