Terroir

Terroir (French pronunciation: ​[tɛʁwaʁ] from terre, "land") is the set of all environmental factors that affect a crop's epigenetic qualities, when the crop is grown in a specific habitat. Collectively, these environmental characteristics are said to have a character; terroir also refers to this character.

Some artisanal crops for which terroir is studied include wine, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, chili peppers, hops, agave (for making tequila and mezcal), tomatoes, heritage wheat, maple syrup, tea, and cannabis.

Terroir is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for wine appellation and regulation in France and around the world. The AOC system presumes that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that growing site (the plants' habitat). The extent of terroir's significance is deliberated in the wine industry.

Origins

TERROIR (architecture firm)

TERROIR is an Australian Architecture firm. TERROIR was founded simultaneously in Hobart and Sydney in 1998 by Professor Richard Blythe (Hobart / Melbourne), Gerard Reinmuth (Sydney) and Scott Balmforth (Hobart). Director Richard Blythe is a Professor in Architecture and Head of School of Architecture and Design at RMIT.

Notable works

TERROIR’s most notable works include Peppermint Bay, Tasmania, Australia (2002) a tourism venture on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel; the redevelopment of 88-89 George St, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia which was the first State heritage building to be awarded a 5 star Green Star rating; Commonwealth Place Kiosks, Canberra, featured on the cover of the Architectural Review Australia no. 105.; and the Burnie Makers' Workshop in Burnie, Tasmania, featured on the cover of Architectural Review Australia no.114 and in the online journal Australian Design Review.

Media

In August 2007 DAB Documents, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) published Terroir: Cosmopolitan Ground, edited by Balmforth and Reinmuth.