Terroir (Tare-Wahr) is a French term which is interpreted in many ways, but a basic definition is: "the coming together of the climate, the soil and the landscape". Others would describe it as the physical and biochemistry of the land.
It is the combination of an infinite number of factors: temperature by day and night, rainfall distribution, hours of sunlight, soil acidity, presence of minerals, depth, water retention, exposure to sunlight, slope and drainage- to name just a few.
You see what makes grape growing and winemaking so fascinating is that you can take the same identical plant and grow it in a different location, and you get a totally different tasting wine. Also, you will get a different taste year after year because the combination of temperature, wind, rainfall, and root depth.
Listen to the pronunciation: terr.mp3