On the Road with the Grape Guy

“Terroir”, is the French word that describes that “je ne sais quoi” aspect in a wine that is imparted to it by the soil in which it is grown. Matt Kramer, of Wine Spectator magazine, an American publication, took the French term and gave it an English equivalent definition “somewhereness”. Of late the term “Terroir” has been used by the folks out in Prince Edward County (PEC), namely those foolhearty growers who brave the vine-killing minus 30 degree winters, to explain why they carry on their practices in such a harsh winter climate; a climate that forces them to bury their vines in November and burn bales of hay in May to avoid frost and winter damage. Their “Terroir” is something the PEC winemakers and growers are fiercely proud of, in fact, in the new PEC winery touring map, the Terroir is something that is highlighted and explained in some degree of detail for each vineyard and winery, complete with colour coded legend. So it is not surprising ... (Read More)


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