04/21/08 Terroir

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran and I am often reading about wine. Today I want to share what I recently came across about Terroir in reverse. As many of you know from previous Vine to Wine programs the term terroir is French and describes the concept that the climate, soil and overall environment the grapes are grown in contribute greatly to the character of the grapes and are often identifiable in the wine. Well I just read about the idea of what was called reverse terroir, in which it s agreed that better wines reflect a good matching of the grape variety to the terroir. However, it begs the question what about when the terroir undervalues the grape being grown there meaning it is not allowing the potential of the grape to shine through. This is referred to as terroir in reverse. The example given was a good one. In France grapes are grown in specified regions or appellations much of it based upon tradition. In one of those regions a grape known as durif is grown and is thought of as a lesser grape. Now the same grape is grown in California where it is experiencing a warmer climate, a longer growing season and different soil. It is doing great it has bold character, lush fruit and nice ripe tannins. It even ages fairly well. In California that grape is known as Petite Sirah, no relation to Syrah, and it is to me a great example of how there just might be something to that whole terroir thing. And thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.