編按:白酒愛好者一定要知道的葡萄- 麗絲玲 Riesling
麗絲玲 Riesling 是發源於德國萊茵河地區的白葡萄品種,在發源地德國是最廣為種植的品種,具有強烈鮮明的香氣和高雅的酸度,從不甜的干型葡萄酒到貴腐、冰酒等的甜酒類型上都有非常好的表現,宛如一位可以駕馭任何角色的女主角,在她的舞台上散發著耀眼的光芒。
起源
麗絲玲屬於晚熟的品種,在相對冷涼的產區可以讓她在不損失過多酸度的情況下,慢慢讓香氛物質成熟,釀出來的酒常有著檸檬、萊姆、柑橘、忍冬花、礦物氣息與標誌性的汽油揮發氣味,在稍微溫暖的區域則會發展出桃子、鳳梨等稍具成熟風味的果味,由於她擁有強烈香氣以及高酸度,讓她在製造為甜酒 (貴腐酒、冰酒) 時,能與其甜度達成平衡,使酒不致於過於甜。
陳年潛力
另外白酒中酸度也是陳年潛力的指標,品質良好的麗絲玲以擁有數年甚至是數十年的陳年能力而聞名,成熟後的麗絲玲,會帶有相當迷人的蜂蜜與烤麵包的香氣。
食物的搭配
在食物的搭配上,可以依據成品酒中甜度的差異搭配多種料理,干型酒常見的搭配包括油脂較豐厚的白肉、烤豬肉及重口味的中國、泰國菜,而甜酒則可以看甜度搭配不同的乳酪、甜點等。
新興地區
除了發源地德國之外,在法國的阿爾薩斯及奧地利也生產非常優質的麗絲玲,另外在澳洲的克萊爾谷地與伊甸谷地產地會是不甜與帶有許多柑橘香氣的特徵。
延伸閱讀:酒杯中的甜蜜 – 甜酒的釀造與著名的產區
by Samdiva
Riesling [wiki] is a white grape variety that originated in the Rhine region. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally pure and are seldom oaked. As of 2004, Riesling was estimated to be the world’s 20th most grown variety at 48,700 hectares (120,000 acres) (with an increasing trend), but in terms of importance for quality wines, it is usually included in the “top three” white wine varieties together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Riesling is a variety that is highly “terroir-expressive”, meaning that the character of Riesling wines is greatly influenced by the wine’s place of origin.