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Geology and Wine 4. The Origin and Odyssey of Terroir

2001; Geological Association of Canada; Volume: 28; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Francês

1911-4850

James Wilson,

Botanical Research and Applications

As a wine term terroir dates from the glorious years of 14th century wine-making in Burgundy, France. The term was first applied to certain top-quality wine-producing properties along the Cote d'Or, Burgundy. Outside France terroir is being applied more loosely, to properties producing less than top-quality wines, not the original purpose of the term. Terroir recognizes many of the physical elements of wine-making, including good drainage,soil structure, nature of clays, and the existence and interaction of chemical compounds such as calcium carbonate, iron, magnesium, and others in an almost mysterious alchemy in the wine-growing process. Although the physical and chemical interactions that affect the growing of wine are not well understood, the spread of the term terroir is encouraging better use of geology, soil, climate, and culture in producing better wines. Resume Dans son acception vinicole, le mot terroir date des annees glorieuses de la culture du vin au 14 e siecle, le long de la cote d'Or de Bourgogne en France, Ce terme a d'abord ete utilise pour designer certaines proprietes vinicoles essentielles a production des meilleurs vins de la cote d'Or de Bourgogne. Hors France, le mot terroir est utilise plus librement et pour des vins de qualite moindre que superieure, contrairement a l'intention originale. Le mot terroir implique l'existence de nombreux facteurs physiques dans la production du vin, dont un bon drainage, une structure de sol, la nature des argiles, et l'existence de composes chimiques tels le carbonate de calcium, le fer, le magnesium, etc ., qui interagissent selon un procede extremement complexe. Bien que les interactions physiques et chimiques de la production de vin ne soient pas bien comprises, l'usage du mot terroir pousse a un meilleur usage des connaissances geologiques, pedologiques, climatiques et des pratiques culturales dans la production vinicole.