THE INSIST OF NOBILITY

THE INSIST OF NOBILITY

The best wine is achieved by choosing the right barrels at the right time.

Text by Outlook Channel Photos by VCG Translation by Sonia Special thanks to: Alentejo Tourism, Pestana Hotel Group

特别鸣谢： 阿连特茹旅游局, 佩斯塔纳酒店集团

Portugal is the 4th largest winemaking country in the world. Among the many wine regions in Portugal, Alentejo, home to the explorer Vasco da Gama, is especially important in the wine world.

Alentejo is a vast region with a small population. The abundant sunlight all year-round and rare rain make it Portugal's Napa Valley. Grapes growing in these conditions enjoy long life cycles and high ripeness, which lead to the making of best wines.

We visited Lima Mayer & Companhia located in

the city of Monforte in the upper Alentejo. The winery owners, Thomaz and Maria José de Lima Mayer, are from local distinguished families. The noble heritage and culture contribute to the couple's constant drive for quality.

In Portugal, 80% of the wineries have adopted machinery for grape picking. In Lima Mayer, the grapes have always been handpicked. The cost is very high, but the quality of grapes for winemaking is intact.

After approximately two weeks of primary fermentation, the grape juice will be filled in the traditional French oak barrels for further fermentation and aging. Lima Mayer only uses brand new oak barrels imported from France. Unlike the American oak barrels that quicken the aging process, the French oak barrels make the aging process very slow. In general, only trees of eight years and above can be used to make superior French oak barrels. To ensure the quality of wine, Lima Mayer chooses barrels that cost over EUR 2,000 per piece. And these expensive barrels are to be used only once in Lima Mayer.

The perseverance for quality runs in the blood of the Lima Mayer family. It is also the secret to Portugal's making of excellent wines.

New Findings 新发现

1.Lusitano Horse卢西塔诺马

Monforte has the world's best Lusitano horses. This Lusitano horse performing dressage in Thomaz's nephew Diogo de Lima Mayer's ranch worth €2 million.

2.The Chapel of Bones人骨礼拜堂

Évora is listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. However, what makes the city well-known is the Chapel of Bones. The walls, pillars, and dome are all created using human bones.

3.Wine-Indulgent Portuguese爱酒的葡萄牙人

Annual wine consumption per capita in Portugal is up to 50 liters, third only to France and Italy.

贵族的坚持

最顶级的葡萄酒，实际上从选择橡木桶的时候就已经展现出不同了。

葡萄牙是当今世界第四大葡萄酒生产国，在这里的众多葡萄酒产区中，航海家达伽马的故乡阿连特茹备受世人瞩目。

阿连特茹地广人稀，常年光照充足，降雨稀少，有着葡萄牙加州之称。在这种环境下生长的葡萄，生长周期长，成熟度高，是酿制上等葡萄酒的绝佳选择。

我们拜访了阿连特茹北部城市蒙福蒂的利马梅尔酒庄，酒庄主托马斯和玛丽娅出身于当地的名门望族，贵族的血统与文化赋予了二人对品质的坚持。

在今天的葡萄牙，80%的酒庄都已经采用机械化采摘，而利马梅尔酒庄却一直坚持人工采摘。这样做的成本虽然很高，但是可以保证用来酿酒的葡萄质量。

经过两周左右的初步发酵后，葡萄汁会被装入传统的法国橡木桶中继续发酵并醇熟。利马梅尔酒庄只使用全新的法国原装进口橡木桶，它们不同于美国橡木桶，美国橡木桶的醇熟过程会更快一些，法国橡木桶则非常非常缓慢。一般来说树龄在8年以上的才能够用来制作顶级法国橡木桶。为了保证酒的品质，利马梅尔酒庄选用的橡木桶都是2000多欧元一个的优质橡木桶，而这些价值不菲的橡木桶，在利马梅尔酒庄只被允许使用一次。

对品质的坚守与执着，是流淌在利马梅尔家族中的血液，也是葡萄牙酿制上好葡萄酒的秘密所在。