世界上最著名的可以釀酒的八種葡萄

'I KNOW NOTHING about wine--where do I start?' is perhaps the most frequent question I am asked. An obvious starting point is with grape varieties, which each have their own distinctive character and flavor.
“我對葡萄酒一無所知──我該從哪兒開始？”這可能是我最常被問到的問題。一般來說，可以從瞭解葡萄品種開始，每個葡萄品種都有自己與衆不同的特徵和味道。

There are more than 5,000 varieties of wine grapes planted in the world. Luckily, for those new to the subject, only 100 or so have enough appeal to be deemed commercially viable. Luckier still, it's a relatively small number that have found international recognition.
世界上種植着超過5,000種釀酒葡萄。幸運的是，對於葡萄酒新手而言，只有100種左右被認爲有足夠的商業吸引力。還很幸運的是，受到國際認可的品種也相對較少。

These used to be referred to as the Noble Grape Varieties, a term coined by the British wine trade to describe the classic grapes of Europe (though it's no longer used in professional wine exams). Nicholas King, research and development manager at the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, says it drifted out of use in about 2003. After using 'common' or 'international,' the educational body has now settled on the term 'principal' grape varieties.
Jean-Manuel Duvivier這些品種曾被稱爲“貴族葡萄品種”(Noble Grape Varieties)，英國葡萄酒行業用這個詞形容歐洲的經典葡萄品種（儘管在專業葡萄酒考試中已不再用這個詞）。葡萄酒與烈酒基金會(Wine & Spirits Education Trust)的研發經理尼古拉斯·金(Nicholas King)稱，此稱呼在2003年左右退出使用。在使用過“常見”和“國際”後，這家教育機構現在將其定名爲“主要”葡萄品種。

Whatever the term, it refers to the eight classic varieties--Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache and Riesling--whose flavor and character have led to them being exported around the world. Their success has, in many ways, been detrimental to their reputation: the level of planting being such that quality has inevitably been diluted.
不管使用什麼名字，它指的都是八個經典葡萄品種──霞多麗(Chardonnay)、黑皮諾(Pinot Noir)、赤霞珠(Cabernet Sauvignon)、梅樂(Merlot)、長相思(Sauvignon Blanc)、西拉(Syrah)、歌海娜(Grenache)和雷司令(Riesling)──它們的味道和特徵使它們出口到全世界。從許多方面看，它們的成功都對其聲名有損：種植水平相當參差不齊，以至於質量也不可避免地下降。

Wherever you are on the wine journey, whether a connoisseur or a novice, an understanding and appreciation of these varieties will benefit you enormously.
不管你對葡萄酒瞭解多少，是行家還是菜鳥，瞭解和鑑別這些品種都將使你獲益良多。

I rather like the old term for them as, in their finest form, these grapes are capable of producing wines that are among the very best in the world. Here's my guide to what every wine Drinker should know.
我更喜歡它們的舊名，因爲最優質的葡萄才能釀造出世界上最好的葡萄酒。以下是我認爲每位葡萄酒品嚐者都應該知道的常識。

Cabernet Sauvignon
赤霞珠

Principally associated with the red wines of the M鉬doc in Bordeaux, this variety has been planted all over the world. A late ripener, its small red berries produce wines that when young have a concentrated, dark color and taste predominantly of blackcurrant. Young Cabernet can also have a spicy, herby character and a lot of tannin. With age (and the very best will be long lasting), they develop secondary notes of cedar. Often blended with other varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon is also grown in Australia, Chile, South Africa and California, where it is very successful.
這個品種主要與波爾多(Bordeaux) 梅多克(Medoc)地區的紅葡萄酒有關，世界各地均有種植。它是一種晚熟品種，小紅漿果釀造出的葡萄酒在年份淺時色澤濃深，嚐起來主要是黑醋栗味。年份淺的赤霞珠也可能有辛辣草香味道，富有大量單寧。隨着年份漸深（最好的赤霞珠是年份深的陳酒），它們呈現出第二香調──雪松香。赤霞珠通常與其他品種混合種植，也成功生長在澳大利亞、智利、南非和加利福尼亞州。

Drinking Now // 1996 Château Lynch Bages, EUR120; and 2011 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, EUR12
現在品嚐//1996年靚茨伯酒莊(Chateau Lynch Bages)產赤霞珠，120歐元；2011年巴斯克酒莊(Los Vascos)產赤霞珠，12歐元

Chardonnay
霞多麗

Due to the fact that it can be grown successfully almost anywhere, this white grape variety from Burgundy is a global superstar. It can be all things to all men, from rich, buttery and nutty in Burgundy to taut, clean, crisp and dry (most notably in Chablis); sparkling where it is part of the Champagne blend; and ripe with a nose of exotic fruits in warmer regions. Sublime in Burgundy, Chardonnay is also successful in Australia, California, New Zealand and Italy.
由於它幾乎可以在任何地方成功生長，這種來自勃艮第(Burgundy)的白葡萄是全球葡萄品種中的超級明星。它的口感多樣，適合所有人，從勃艮第的醇厚、黃油和堅果風味到緊緻、 透、乾爽和清淡風味（夏布利酒(Chablis)最爲明顯）不一而足；與香檳混釀時它泡沫豐富，成熟時帶有溫暖地區異域水果的香氣。最好的霞多麗產自勃艮第，它在澳大利亞、加利福尼亞洲、新西蘭和意大利也可以成功生長。

Drinking Now // 2011 Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Chardonnay, EUR24; and 2008 Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, EUR60
現在品嚐//2011年奧邦洛斯阿拉莫斯酒莊(Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Chardonnay)產霞多麗，24歐元；2008年約瑟夫杜魯安皮里尼-蒙哈謝一級酒莊(Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru)產霞多麗，60歐元Grenache
歌海娜

Powerful, low in acidity, high in alcohol, this hearty red-wine grape is the staple for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where it finds its greatest expression. Extensively planted, it is believed to have originated in Spain before being introduced to the Rhône valley, where it produces rich, fruity wines. Often blended with Syrah and Mourv dre, you will also find Grenache in Australia, California, Spain, and throughout the Mediterranean basin.
這種勁大、低酸度、高酒精度的美味紅酒葡萄是教皇新堡(Chateauneuf-du-Pape)的主要原料，它的特徵在這裏發揮得淋漓盡致。這種廣泛種植的葡萄被認爲原產於西班牙，之後它被引入羅訥河谷(Rhone valley)，在那裏釀造出濃醇的果味葡萄酒。歌海娜經常與西拉和慕維德(Mourvedre)混釀，它也生長於澳大利亞、加利福尼亞洲、西班牙和整個地中海盆地。

Drinking Now // 2009 Château Mont Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, EUR18; and 2008 Domaine de la Mordor鉬e Lirac La Reine des Bois, EUR25
現在品嚐//2009年夕鐸酒莊(Chateau Mont Redon)產教皇新堡，18歐元；2008年份蒙多利酒莊(Domaine de la Mordoree) 利哈克(Lirac)產區產森林女王(La Reine des Bois)，25歐元

Merlot
梅樂

Soft, supple and fruity, Merlot is the yin to Cabernet Sauvignon's yang. Mainly grown on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, it is the principal variety of Pomerol and is often blended with Cabernet. It produces red wines that are packed full of fruit notes such as blackcurrant and plums--wines that can be high in alcohol but, due to their soft tannins, can be drunk young. Outside of France, it is grown in northern Italy, California, Washington state and Chile.
梅樂的口感綿軟、柔和、帶有果香，如果赤霞珠是陽，它就是陰。梅樂主要生長在波爾多右岸(Right Bank)，是波美侯(Pomerol)的主要品種，通常與赤霞珠混釀。它釀造出的紅葡萄酒充滿水果香調，例如黑醋栗和李子──這種葡萄酒的酒精度可能很高，但由於含綿軟的單寧，可以在年份較淺時喝。除了法國，它還生長在意大利北部、加利福尼亞州、華盛頓州和智利。

Drinking Now // 1999 Château Saint-Poly, EUR27; and 2010 Meerlust Merlot, EUR24
現在品嚐//1999年 波麗酒莊(Chateau Saint-Poly)產梅樂，27歐元；2010年美蕾酒莊(Meerlust)產梅樂，24歐元

Pinot Noir
黑皮諾

Delicate, early-ripening and, with thin skins, difficult to grow, Pinot Noir grapes find their natural home in France's Burgundy region. Here, the variety produces texturally light red wines that have aromas of raspberry, cherry, violets and sometimes game. It is also successfully grown in cooler regions such as Oregon, Germany, parts of Australia, California and New Zealand, where it achieves greatness. As well as producing red wines (for which it is rarely blended), it is also grown in Champagne and blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
黑皮諾葡萄嬌嫩、早熟、皮薄、很難種植，它的天然家鄉在法國的勃艮第地區。在這裏，黑皮諾釀造出質地輕盈，帶有覆盆子、櫻桃、紫羅蘭（有時還有野味）香氣的紅酒。它在俄勒岡州、德國、澳大利亞的部分地區、加利福尼亞州和新西蘭等較涼爽的地區也可以成功生長。它不但可以用來釀造紅葡萄酒（此時很少混釀），還生長在香檳地區，與霞多麗和莫尼耶皮諾(Pinot Meunier)混釀。

Drinking Now // 2008 Bruno Clair Marsannay Les Vaudenelles, EUR18; and 2009 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir, EUR26
現在品嚐//2008年布魯諾克萊爾酒莊(Bruno Clair)馬沙內(Marsannay) 產區坡頂產黑皮諾，18歐元；2009年瑪爾瑪酒莊(Marimar Estate)產黑皮諾，26歐元

Riesling
雷司令

This ancient variety from Germany is particularly popular with oenophiles. In Germany it produces wines that are crisp, light and fruity. Their nose can range from pungent perfume to flowers, limes, lemons and, with age, petrol. Their charm is the way they can marry acidity with either dryness or sweetness on the palate. The very best are always refreshing. Riesling is also grown in Alsace, Australia, Oregon and California.
雷司令這個來自德國的古老品種特別受到品酒行家好評。在德國，它釀造出爽口、清淡、帶有果香的葡萄酒。它的香氣從刺鼻香水到鮮花、酸橙和檸檬香不一而足，年份深時爲汽油香。它的魅力在於能將酸度和清單或甘甜的口感完美搭配。最好的雷司令總是口味清爽的。雷司令也生長在阿爾薩斯(Alsace)、澳大利亞、俄勒岡州和加利福尼亞州。

Drinking Now // 2012 Weingut Thorle Riesling Kalkstein, EUR24; and 2011 Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Casablanca Riesling, EUR10
現在品嚐//2012年托勒酒莊(Weingut Thorle)石灰岩土壤產雷司令，24歐元；2011年份幹露酒莊(Concha y Toro) 產科爾特-伊格納西奧(Corte Ignacio) 卡薩布蘭卡谷(Casablanca)雷司令，10歐元

Sauvignon Blanc
長相思

Refreshing, grassy, aromatic, scintillating, light, direct--there are myriad descriptors suitable for this white grape variety. Now widely planted, it was originally grown in Bordeaux and the Loire, where it produces a crisp, dry style. Today it is best known for its new spiritual home in New Zealand, where it overflows with ripe, tropical characteristics such as gooseberry, pineapple and green pepper.
清爽、草香、芬芳、起泡、輕盈、直白──無數形容詞都適合這種白葡萄。原產于波爾多和盧瓦爾河(Loire)流域的它現在種植廣泛，可以釀造出乾爽清淡型葡萄酒。如今，它最爲人熟知的新精神家園在新西蘭，它在那裏充分散發出成熟的熱帶特徵，例如醋栗、菠蘿和青椒香氣。

Drinking Now // 2011 Lucien Crochet Sancerre, EUR15; and 2013 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, EUR32
現在品嚐//2011年呂西安克羅謝酒莊(Lucien Crochet)桑塞爾產區(Sancerre)產長相思，15歐元；2013年雲霧之灣(Cloudy Bay)產長相思，32歐元

Syrah or Shiraz
西拉或設拉子(Shiraz)

In France, Syrah produces a dark, brooding red wine, packed full of tannin, that smells overwhelmingly of pepper and can age beautifully. In the northern Rhône it is found in such famous appellations as Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. In Australia, where it is known as Shiraz, it produces an altogether different wine, replacing its savory northern Rhône notes with dark fruit, chocolate and licorice. Widely planted around the world, this variety produces big, bold red wines that are best drunk with red meat.

在法國，西拉釀造出黯深、沉鬱的紅葡萄酒，充滿單寧香氣，聞起來有沖鼻的胡椒味，年份越深越漂亮。在羅訥河(Rhone)北部，它見於埃米塔日(Hermitage)和羅帝丘(Cote-Rotie) 等著名產區。在澳大利亞（它在那裏被稱爲設拉子），它釀造出一種完全不同的葡萄酒，黑色水果、巧克力和甘草的香氣代替了美味的羅訥河北部香調。這個品種廣泛種植於全世界，釀造出香醇濃烈的葡萄酒，飲用時最好與紅肉搭配。

Drinking Now // 2010 Andr鉬 Perret St. Joseph, EUR27; and 2009 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, EUR25
現在品嚐//2010年安爵佩雷酒莊(Andre Perret)產 約瑟(St. Joseph)，27歐元；2009年託佈雷酒莊(Torbreck)產伐木工設拉子(Woodcutter's Shiraz)，25歐元