Terroir

Terroir was originally a French term in wine and coffee appreciation used to denote the special characteristics of geography that bestowed individuality upon the food product. It can be loosely translated as "a sense of place" which is embodied in certain qualities, and the sum of the effects that the local environment has had on the manufacture of the product.

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The contemporary meaning of the term now goes beyond mere geography, and primarily conveys the concept of quality in wine making. Terroir is distinct from the characteristics imparted by the plant variety, the vintage and production methods (vinification, etc.), and is the product of a range of local influences that are transmitted into the character of the good. Oenophiles use the concept of terroir to refer to wines that are distinctive and unique to their place of origin. However, the question of whether terroir is quantifiable, and the role that terroir plays in producing a "good" wine are matters of some controversy.

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Terroir is a term adopted from the French usage, an extended meaning of the word for "land". Terroir is often italicized in English writing to show that it is a French loanword, although many now regard it as a word naturalized into English.

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