What is Terroir?

Fog on the vineyard, San Leonino, Tuscany ©2006 Dave Trieger
(Ter-war) Wines are defined mainly by where their grapes are grown, or their Terroir. The amount of sun, dew, fog and rain, the soil composition, drainage, heat retention of the soil, warm days, cool nights, are all factors that make up Terroir. Topography also plays a big part, is the vineyard near a lake? near a mountain? in a valley? at a high altitude?

It's the "flavor" of the LAND, or more specifically the "flavor" of the PLACE. In short, Terroir is the artist's hand, and it paints the picture of the wine on the drinker's senses.