Terroir

Advanced 🍳 Food / Culinary

Definition

A French term describing how the environment where food is grown -- soil, climate, terrain -- affects its flavor. Wine people use it constantly. It's the reason a grape from Bordeaux costs $200 and the same grape from your backyard costs you a conversation with a raccoon.

Example Usage

"The sommelier explained this wine's terroir for twenty minutes. I learned about limestone, rainfall patterns, and the farmer's childhood. I just wanted a glass of red."

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