The magic of terroir. When geography turns into taste

"Wine expresses its terroir", "The terroir of this region is unique" - these phrases have become an integral part of the lexicon of winemakers and wine experts in recent years. Obviously, even ordinary wine lovers have had to hear such wine remarks more than once.

What does science say?

What is this mysterious concept of "terroir", which is so often talked about in the world of winemaking? Let's start with the explanations of the International Organization of Viticulture and Winemaking - OIV.

Terroir is a concept denoting an area where collective knowledge is developed about the interaction of the distinctive physical and biological factors of the habitat and established practices of viticulture and winemaking. These factors determine the excellent performance of products that grow in a certain area.

In simple words

Well written, but a bit complicated, isn't it? Simply put, terroir is what makes it possible to distinguish, for example, Chardonnay from Burgundy from Australian, Riesling from Germany from Austrian. Even the distance between vineyards of a few meters can affect the taste of wine.
The concept of terroir is perfectly illustrated by the vineyards of Burgundy, which, thanks to their unique soil, topographic, climatic, landscape factors and biodiversity features, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here it is important to understand that the influence of terroir on the taste of wine is only one side of the coin. Although the environment can give the grapes special characteristics, the skill of the winemaker plays an important role in the winemaking process. Thus, terroir wine is the result of the synergy of the unique terroir with the talent and skills of the people who work in the wine industry.

The role of the winemaker in "terroir" history

Winemakers have to consider many factors when creating wine. These are the climate, soil type, topography, humidity level, even proximity to reservoirs or mountain ranges. All these aspects form a unique terroir that directly affects the wine profile.
For example, the composition of the soil can give the wine mineral notes. The climate also plays a huge role: a lot of sun throughout the year gives the wine a rich, bright aroma and taste. The vineyards of the world's best dessert wines grow near the water, where thick fogs form, and the days are very dry and sunny. Such an environment contributes to the formation of a special fungus - botrytis - on the berries. Unique sweet wines are made from grapes covered with this noble fungus.
Thus, every detail of the terroir becomes an imprint of the place and its unique characteristics in the taste profile of the wine. The skill of the winemaker is to skilfully use the natural features of the region and make high-quality exceptional wines. Evaluating wines by their terroir turns the tasting into an exciting journey through the traditions of the wine regions.

What is "terroir" for us

For our Vinos de La Luz brand, the importance of terroir cannot be overstated. We have several wineries producing quality wines in the best wine regions of the Old and New World. These are Ribera del Duero, Peñafiel (Spain), Tuscany, Siena (Italy), Uco Valley, Mendoza (Argentina), Santa Maria, California (USA).In the wineries of Argentina, family traditions and an unwavering belief in quality help to produce wines that have become a true symbol of the region. We also wanted to find the best vineyards in Spain and Italy. In the end, we created wines from such unique varieties as Malbec, Tempranillo and Sangiovese. The result of the search for one's own identity and winemaking experience is our wines, which impress with their quality and unique character. We call them "wines of LIGHT" — Vinos de LA LUZ. We have discovered for ourselves and our fans a new concept of winemaking - "terroir blends". This is not just an ordinary blend of grape varieties. 

Our idea is to create wines from the same grape variety, but from different geographical regions. Our "terroir blend" consists of different percentages of Malbec from different terroirs, varying each year depending on the quality of the grapes in each vintage. That's why we call it a "nomad", because each bottle has its own, unique story that travels through various terroirs. It is interesting how the properties of wine change even within a few kilometers. We strive to show this through the example of our wines.

We also make exclusive monovarietal wines from one specific plot, each of which has its own name. For example, in Mendoza, Argentina, these are four unusual places: Gualtallari, Altamira, Pampa El Sepillo and Vista Flores. Each of these places has its own unique wine, collected on a specific plot of the vineyard.

For us, each bottle of wine is not only a drink, but also a unique story. We take care to show our connoisseurs the genetic code of the area where the grapes grow. Each drop of our wine reflects the life path of each grape. Grapes grow and ripen, absorbing all the beauty and tenderness of the area. The influence of the sun, wind and rain, as well as the uniqueness of the soil - all this is reflected in the taste and aroma of wine. When we enjoy a glass of our Odesa Black, Telti Kuruk or Pinot Noir, we are truly transported to the very land from which it originates.

Join us on this exciting "terroir" journey.