【每日新闻】8种世界上酿葡萄酒最出名葡萄介绍(双语)

【每日新闻】8种世界上酿葡萄酒最出名葡萄介绍（双语）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.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.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.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.Wherever you are on the wine journey, whether a connoisseur or a novice, an understanding and appreciation of these varieties will benefit you enormously.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.Cabernet SauvignonPrincipally associated with the red wines of the M钼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.Drinking Now // 1996 Ch?teau Lynch Bages, EUR120; and 2011 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, EUR12ChardonnayDue 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.Drinking Now // 2011 Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Chardonnay, EUR24; and 2008 Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, EUR60GrenachePowerful, low in acidity, high in alcohol, this hearty red-wine grape is the staple for Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape, where it finds its greatest expression. Extensively planted, it is believed to have originated in Spain before being introduced to the Rh?ne 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.Drinking Now // 2009 Ch?teau Mont Redon Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape, EUR18; and 2008 Domaine de la Mordor钼e Lirac La Reine des Bois, EUR25MerlotSoft, 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.Drinking Now // 1999 Ch?teau Saint-Poly, EUR27; and 2010 Meerlust Merlot, EUR24Pinot NoirDelicate, 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 lightred 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.Drinking Now // 2008 Bruno Clair Marsannay Les Vaudenelles, EUR18; and 2009 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir, EUR26RieslingThis 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.Drinking Now // 2012 Weingut Thorle Riesling Kalkstein, EUR24; and 2011 Concha y Toro Corte Ignacio Casablanca Riesling, EUR10Sauvignon BlancRefreshing, 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.Drinking Now // 2011 Lucien Crochet Sancerre, EUR15; and 2013 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, EUR32Syrah or ShirazIn France, Syrah produces a dark, brooding red wine, packed full of tannin, that smells overwhelmingly of pepper and can age beautifully. In the northern Rh?ne it is found in such famous appellations as Hermitage and C?te-R?tie. In Australia, where it is known as Shiraz, it produces an altogether different wine, replacing its savory northern Rh?ne 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.Drinking Now // 2010 Andr钼Perret St. Joseph, EUR27; and 2009 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, EUR25“我对葡萄酒一无所知──我该从哪儿开始？”这可能是我最常被问到的问题。