Through the terroir: the beginning of actually understanding wine

It’s funny how quickly your relationship with wine changes once you stop focusing on what you think you’re supposed to like and start paying attention to what’s actually happening in the glass.

That’s really what Through the Terroir is about.

Not pretending to be a sommelier. Not throwing around complicated tasting notes for the sake of it. Just genuinely understanding wine through experience. The more bottles I try, the more I realise wine is far more personal than I first thought.

At the start of my wine journey, I was standing in supermarkets reading the back labels trying to work out whether a wine had been fermented in stainless steel because in my head that automatically meant fresher and better. Looking back now, I realise how little that actually tells you on its own.

The interesting part is what happens when you start noticing patterns for yourself.

What I’ve started noticing

When I really enjoy a wine, it never seems to be about the first sip.

The wines I connect with most seem to travel. They sit on the roof of my mouth, the aroma comes back through the nose and the flavour keeps unfolding after you swallow. That’s where the magic is for me.

When I don’t enjoy a wine, it’s usually the opposite.

The flavour drops quickly, the tannins dry out the sides of my tongue and everything feels a bit sharp or aggressive. I kept describing certain wines as green for ages before I even properly understood what I meant by it. Now I know it’s that leafy, bitter edge that just doesn’t quite land with my palate.

That alone has probably taught me more than any wine book so far.

Realising expensive and good aren’t always the same thing

One thing that’s surprised me recently is how unpredictable wine can be.

I’ve had supermarket bottles for under a tenner that genuinely made me stop and think, and I’ve also tried more expensive wines that technically felt impressive but didn’t really connect with me at all.

That’s been quite refreshing actually.

There’s this assumption when you first get into wine that the more expensive the bottle, the more you’re automatically going to enjoy it. I’m not convinced that’s true anymore.

Some wines feel polished but don’t move me.

Others just hit immediately.

I had a Barbera D’asti recently that at first felt slightly acidic and underwhelming. Then after some air it completely changed. Suddenly there was this lovely fruit, a bit of vanilla and loads more softness. The whole wine relaxed.

That moment probably taught me more than reading ten reviews online would have.

The styles pulling me in naturally

Without really trying to force it, I’m starting to notice where my palate naturally leans.

I seem to love wines with expressive noses and softer fruit profiles. Plum, cherry, darker red fruits, warmth and texture. Wines that feel layered rather than aggressive.

Rioja has started making more and more sense to me because of that.

Not the huge, jammy styles, but the more mature Gran Reservas where the oak, fruit and age all start working together properly. Some of those wines almost blur the line between power and elegance.

At the same time, certain younger wines still feel a bit too sharp for me right now. Especially if the acidity or tannins dominate the experience.

But that’s part of the fun.

Your palate changes constantly.

A few weeks ago I was convinced stainless steel wines were my thing. Now I’m finding myself fascinated by aged Rioja and wanting to explore mature Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon properly.

Why I wanted to start this site

I think wine can sometimes feel overly complicated online.

Too many rules, too much jargon, too many people acting like there’s only one correct opinion.

That’s not really what I want Through the Terroir to be.

I want this site to feel like real conversations about wine. The good bottles, the disappointing ones, the supermarket finds, the moments where something suddenly clicks and starts making sense.

Because once you begin recognising what actually works for your palate, wine becomes far more enjoyable.

You stop chasing scores and start chasing experiences.

And honestly, I think that’s where the real wine journey starts.