One of the most common terms when talking about wine is now “terroir“. It seems one of those big words that became fashionable or to pretend to be true connoisseurs, but what do we really mean by the term terroir? And most importantly, why is it so important for wine?
WHAT IS TERROIR?
The term “terroir” comes from French and has no precise literal translation in Italian. Its meaning can be understood as the set of environmental and human factors that influence the taste of wine in a specific geographical area.
What we call terroir in fact includes:
- Climate: temperature, rainfall, sun exposure and wind.
- Soil: chemical composition, drainage and soil structure.
- Topography: altitude, inclination and orientation of the vines.
- Human factors: local cultivation techniques and oenological traditions.
In practice, the terroir represents the specific interaction between the environment and human intervention, encapsulating the history, culture and unique essence of a territory.
WHAT DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF WINE?
The terroir is often considered the soul of wine. It has a profound influence on the fundamental aspects that determine its quality:
- Aromas and flavours: the characteristics of soil and climate determine the aromatic and gustatory complexity of the wine.
- Acidity and structure: the hours of sunshine, the temperature and the composition of the soil influence the natural acidity and the tannic structure of the wine.
- Identity: a wine that reflects its terroir, also characterized by local techniques and traditions, it is unique and not replicable elsewhere.
For example, a wine produced in a hilly region with calcareous soil and cool climate will have very different characteristics from a wine grown in a flat area with volcanic soil and warm climate.
And not only that, the terroir is so important that even two vineyards located a short distance from each other can produce completely different wines thanks to the differences in soil, climate, altitude and sun exposure.
TERROIR, CONCRETE EXAMPLES
Tuscany and its gentle hills are the perfect proof: in Chianti, with elevations ranging from 200 to 450m above sea level, mainly clay soils and a typical continental climate, we obtain vigorous and unmistakable wines such as Bello Stento and Gran Selezione.
A few kilometers away, in the Montepulciano area, where our vineyards reach 600m above sea level, the soil is characterized by sandy clays and the climate is more Mediterranean, we get elegant and velvety wines such as Santavenre and Poderuccio.
In fact, with Triacca as its goal the full respect of the territory, all our wines are the perfect representation of the terroir that cherish them.
The next time you taste a glass of wine, stop for a moment to think about the terroir that created it: you will immediately notice its harmonious complexity. Come see us to find out!
