The term “terroir”, which usually translates to Spanish as “terroir” or “payment” includes not only the characteristics of the soil where it is grown, but also other aspects such as relief or inclination thereof, climate, both General and particular region each parcel of vineyard, and also how culture and cultural tasks performed.
Based on these concepts, most would not be necessary to explain the varying wealth of nutrients that have a floor drainage features, quality and quantity of water used for irrigation, will significantly influence the qualities grape obtained.
The same applies to the topography or relief, which determines irrigation and distribution of minerals in the soil and in certain countries in colder climates, an inclination to favor or protect the insulation of unfavorable winds, is critical to good aging.
The climate, both regional and local conditions the quality of fruit maturity and health of it, through the sunshine, days of cloudiness, temperature range, relative humidity, average mean temperatures, frost-free days , chance of late or early frosts. This aspect may condition such that we can cultivate varieties in place since, according to whether its growth cycle is longer or shorter.
Finally, the cultural practices are also determinants of the characteristics of the grape and wine we get from it, because it is not grown in indistinct or trellised vine, making a longer or shorter pruning, thinning or not do Leaf plucking bunches or during the growing season.
Terroir is a broad concept that covers key aspects related to the characteristics of the raw material and therefore the wine is obtained from it. If the terroir effect was inconsequential, then why would not there are differences between a Malbec grapes grown, eg, Lujan and another Lavalle. However, the wines made from those grapes will have distinctive characteristics, acidity, color index, astringency and aromas. This “personality” or distinctive feature in the visual, aromatic and gustatory aspects that each wine presented in part come from the oenological practices so within each winery, but a large proportion is due to the peculiarities of the raw material, which in turn are determined by the “terroir” where he was born, grew up and matured.
This concept is important for all wines, not just the high end. Until varieties generally intended for concentrated must or basic wines have a “homeland” in which get better performance. Just a matter of looking. In the case of premium wines, where current technology allows us to obtain wine varietal expressions unthinkable a couple of decades ago, it is also essential to achieve highlight particular aspects of the soil, which will give a distinctive and unique personality to the wine want to obtain.
Source: Mr. Luis Fontana..
Winemaker and Geologist National Wine Institute
