The notion of terroir implicates much more than just the ground alone or the soil itself.

The origin of the word terroir brings to mind the predominant influence of the terrain on all the other natural elements that contribute to the making of a Grand Vin. In fact the notion of terroir implicates more than just the ground alone or the soil itself. It connotes the mixture of diverse stones and gravels that have built up on certain specific sites during successive geological eras. This accumulation leaves very often a distinction between the topsoil and that found underneath. A difference is also evident between the layers more or less cultivated by man and the earth deep down that has not been touched for millions of years.

The terroir is also a sort of third dimension with slopes that are more or less obvious here and there. It is usually a terrain worn down by the ages until it has finally reached an equilibrium that renders its true profile. Generally, the best areas are found on the downhill slopes, some steeper than others. Here is collected all the debris from the ground above.

If the profile of the slope is important, equally important is its exposure to the sun. The effect of sunlight on the terrain will vary in its influence on the ripening of the grapes according to the orientation of the different slopes. During the summer Solstice the sun is practically vertical to the ground and these differences become negligible. But the grapes ripen in the fall towards the end of September or beginning of October. Then the sun is already much lower on the horizon and the differences of exposures to sun augment bit by bit as the days grow shorter. The seemingly negligible differences now take on a definite importance.

The terroir is also an old tradition of viticulture in one specific place. The vines in their intrinsic manner sap the soil. The tradition of continuous weed killing and the monoculture of a plant in land that is generally very poor, leads to an excessive lack of humus in the soil. In a veritable viticulture plot most plants other than vines wither and die.

The terroir is actually its environment. A forest, a river, a pond, fields, other vines, so many situations like these do vary according to the rapid change of temperature at sundown and sunup or with the chilly evening temperatures. For example, a forest can easily block the North winds as it can impede the ventilation of certain areas and thus condemn them to be frost prone.

In summing up, one would say today that the terroir is a veritable ecosystem where natural conditions have been modified and transformed by man who throughout the centuries has exploited the land to the best of his ability using what nature has given him. It is the combination of these conditions both from nature and mankind that evolves into the notion of terroir and the originality and specific characteristics of the wine produced thereon.

To learn more about the terroir of Château Haut-Brion...