by Garance Marechal
Marechal, G. (2009). Terroir. In: A.J. Mills, G. Durepos and E. Wiebe ed(s). Encyclopedia of Case Study Research. London: Sage, 2009, 921-23
Terroir is a French word, derived from the latin ‘territorium’, meaning territory. It long retained its original... more
Terroir is a French word, derived from the latin ‘territorium’, meaning territory. It long retained its original meaning of ‘territory’ (ground, country, region) but developed a more specialized connotation as ‘location’ or ‘soil’, considered in terms of its ability to support specific types of agricultural production. It is strongly associated with regional foods such as tea or coffee and viniculture in particular. Reference to wine is redolent in the use of the term, as in the following evocative expressions: ‘goût du terroir’ (tasting of terroir) or ‘sentir le terroir’ (smelling of terroir).
More recently, the word has been used as a synonym of ‘origin’ to evoke a ‘sense of place’ and combine implicit reference to distinctive attributes of locality and terrain. It denotes a rural region considered as shaping the distinctive characteristics of its inhabitants, language or local culture, including the local accent (accent du terroir). This usage associates social and cultural practice and place with connotations of roots and origin, tradition and heritage.
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