What Is Terroir?
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Terroir is everything about a place that shapes the grapes: climate, soil, slope, aspect and even local tradition. Two vineyards of the same grape a few kilometres apart can make very different wines.
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Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rainfall over the season.
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Soil
Drainage, water-holding and nutrients.
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Topography
Slope, altitude and which way the vineyard faces.
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People
Generations of local know-how in vineyard and cellar.
🇿🇦 Cape spotlight
The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate: wet winters and warm, dry summers. Dry summers mean healthy grapes with little disease.
🧠 Quick check: tap to reveal
🤔 What does terroir describe?
The influence of place: climate, soil, slope and people.
🤔 What type of climate does the Western Cape have?
Mediterranean: wet winters, warm dry summers.
Next up: Two oceans and a famous wind