Contributed by Dawn Shepherd from Boutique Hotel Barges' US Office Terroir is a French word which translates literally as 'soil', but the meaning of this word encompasses much more. To wine lovers and vintners, terroir expresses the combination of environmental elements, including soil type, weather, topography, and nearby crops or native plants, that impact the overall character of wine made from grapes grown in a particular area.
Terroir is at the base of the French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system, the strict set of rules governing how French wines can be labeled. Unlike American wine labels that generally feature the variety of grape a wine is made from, French wines are primarily labeled based on the region where the wine was produced.
Although I knew the definition of terroir as it applies to wine, I first truly understood it after spending a few weeks in the Languedoc aboard the beautiful barge Tango. It was grape harvesting time in September, with warm sunny days and refreshingly cool nights. We cruised along the Canal du Midi, past vineyards and olive groves, and fields where sunflowers had grown. It was a very pleasant and memorable experience. About 6 months after returning to the U.S., I opened a bottle of wine that I had brought back with me. It was from the domaine of Marie-Claude and Jean-Louis Poudou in Minervois, Chateau Tour Boisée. One sip and I was instantly transported back to Southwestern France. It is hard to describe the magic created by the blend of aroma and taste, but the wine held the very essence of the Languedoc - its terroir.The concept of terroir applies to other crops, particularly tea, coffee and cacao, and increasing the term is being used as it relates to the production of artisan cheese.
When applied to cooking, the term cuisine de terroir means 'regional cooking.' It implies that the chef is using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, prepared using traditional methods and recipes unique to the region. This is the true cooking of the French people, that you can find, not only in the local bistro, but also being served at home for Sunday dinner. It is France's 'soul food.'
Experience terroir for yourself aboard one of the wonderful barges at BoutiqueHotelBarges.com.
