Terroir Explained: Why Place Changes Wine

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Here’s a puzzle: open a bottle of Pinot Noir from Burgundy and one from California. Same grape. Completely different wines.

The Burgundy tastes like earth, mushrooms, and delicate red fruit with an almost translucent quality. The California version bursts with ripe cherry, vanilla, and richness.

How can the same grape produce such different results?

The French have a word for this: terroir. It’s one of wine’s most important concepts, and understanding it changes how you taste, buy, and appreciate wine.

Terroir on Sommo — AI Wine Scanner, WSET Prep & Wine Journal App

Terroir Explained: Why Place Changes Wine