terroir

noun

ter·​roir ˌter-ˈwär 

: the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character

The unique Andean terroir … provides Bolivian winemakers with … a unique product as the result.

—Marianne Perez-Fransius

also : a similar combination of factors that affects the characteristic flavor of other beverages or foods or their ingredients

As with wine, terroir can influence the taste of tequila.

—Lauren Hubbard

Examples of terroir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The defining feature is schist, the only such terroir in the Languedoc. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

In the kitchen, chef Benoît Aldebert is all about the local terroir, preparing seasonal ingredients from the island and surrounding waters in dishes like meagre (an Atlantic croaker) with stewed cherries, gnocchi with coastal herbs, and mussels escabeche with fennel cream. — Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

The intellectual terroir of a human mind, made available to those who need it most. — David S. Bennahum, Fortune, 24 May 2026

Approximately 48 acres will be replanted in 2026, including 28 acres of Cabernet Franc across four clones and 20 acres of sauvignon blanc—two varietals well-suited to Livermore’s terroir. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 17 May 2026

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
• alvar
• bazaar
• bizarre
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar