Something to say? Please leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

Tourisme de Terroir

Coming from the French word terre for “soil,” the word terroir originally described the special characteristics of a region, or piece of land, which gave different varieties of wine, coffee and tea their individuality. (Soil, climate, position, regional traditions….)

Over the centuries, French winemakers developed and took for their own the concept of terroir but the word is still often used to describe rural activities and harvest festivals.

So If you think the end of the summer season brings a curtain down on outdoor frolics in the P-O, read on! Summer fun is fine, but autumn entertainment is awesome, winter wobbles a little, then comes spring. Fairs and festivals around the region, little and large, celebrating every imaginable ‘produit de terroir’, animal, vegetable and mineral.
Potatoes, olives, wine (bien sûr) chocolate, antiques, roast chestnuts, more wine, (bien sûr) witches, horses, foie gras, apples, encore du vin (bien sûr) ………

They might not all be a pulsing whirl of excitement – some are only small gatherings scantily attended – but it’s a great way to support the local producers, many of whom are struggling in the present economic climate.