What does it mean when someone refers to a wine’s terroir? Winemakers often credit the terroir as what makes their wines different, special. They also feel it’s the most important part in their winemaking process! In the broadest sense the word terroir refers to a sense of place. The soil and climate, sun exposure, slope of vines and row orientation all contribute to a vineyard’s terroir. And no two winemaking regions is the same. Every area has differences, and it’s those nuances that make the same grape grown in one area so different from another.
Ever wonder why a Sauvignon Blanc grown in California tastes different from one that comes from New Zealand? Or why a Sancerre, which is made from Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire is so different from a Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina? Same grape just different place!Speaking of Argentina, Osmosis is from the wine-growing area in Mendoza, called Alto Agrelo, considered to be one of the best locations to grow grapes. Situated at the foothills of the Andes Mountains at 3,440 feet above sea level, our terroir is characterized by a dry climate with soils that are sandy, gravelly, and mineral rich. Hot days and cool nights, combined with the high altitude and little rainfall along with the minerality of the soil, Agrelo’s terroir makes for wines that are rich in flavors and complexity.
