terroir

noun

ter·​roir ˌter-ˈwär How to pronounce terroir (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Collecting here means laying down a region while its terroirs and styles keep emerging. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for terroir

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of terroir was in 1863

Rhymes for terroir

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Browse Nearby Words

territory wool
terroir
terron
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Cite this Entry

“Terroir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terroir. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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