What is "terroir"

n. The complete set of local conditions in which a particular wine or family of wines is produced, including soil type, weather conditions, topography and wine-making savoir-faire.

Terroir ( from terre, "land") is the set of all environmental factors that affect a crop's epigenetic qualities, unique environment contexts and farming practices, when the crop is grown in a specific habitat. Collectively, these contextual characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character.

Some artisanal crops for which terroir is studied include wine, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, chili peppers, hops, agave (for making tequila and mezcal), tomatoes, heritage wheat, maple syrup, tea, and cannabis.

Terroir is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for wine appellation and regulation in France and around the world. The AOC system presumes that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that growing site (the plants' habitat). The extent of terroir's significance is debated in the wine industry.

TERROIR is an Australian Architecture firm. TERROIR was founded simultaneously in Hobart and Sydney in 1998 by Professor Richard Blythe (Hobart / Melbourne), Gerard Reinmuth (Sydney) and Scott Balmforth (Hobart). Director Richard Blythe is a Professor in Architecture and Head of School of Architecture and Design at RMIT.