法葡萄酒產量看俏
Scorching temperatures across much of France have made the past few weeks unbearable for many, but with grape harvests kicking off, the heat could not have come at a better time for the country’s winemakers.
法國多數地區過去幾個禮拜以來炙熱高溫不斷，令許多人吃不消，但在葡萄收成季開始之際，對法國葡萄酒釀造者來說，這波高溫來得正是時候。
scorching(adj.)炙熱的unbearable(adj.)令人難以忍受的kick off~開始;展開
“Grape vines like the sun,” said Bernard Farges, president of the wine grower’s association for the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur appellations.
「波爾多和超級波爾多」法定產區葡萄酒農協會會長法爾吉表示：「葡萄樹喜歡出太陽。」
appellation(n.)名稱;稱號
“It rained a lot last spring in nearly all winegrowing regions, especially in the south... so the vines aren’t suffering from the drought,” Farges said.
「今年春天幾乎所有葡萄酒產區都下很多雨，尤其在南部⋯⋯因此葡萄樹未因乾旱而受害。」
suffer from 受…之苦drought(n.)乾旱
Agreste, a French agriculture ministry service, estimates that French wine production in 2018 will be between 46 and 48 million hectolitres, up 27% from a year earlier and a 7% growth compared to the average of the last five years.
法國農業部服務機構Agreste估計，2018年法國葡萄酒產量將在四十六億至四十八億公升之間，較去年同期成長27％，與過去五年的平均水準相比增長7％。
estimate(v.)估計;預估hectoliter(n.)百升compared to~相較於…=compared with~average(n.)平均值
That average was significantly dented in 2017, which saw the smallest European wine production since World War II with Italy, France, Spain and Germany hit by extreme weather.
這個平均值在2017年顯著下降，去年義大利、法國、西班牙和德國受到極端天氣影響，歐洲葡萄酒產量降至二次大戰以來最低。
significantly(adv.)顯著地、大幅地=noticeably=considerablydent(v.)使凹陷;打擊extreme weather極端天氣
A late cold snap in the Bordeaux region last year, for instance, reduced the harvest by 40 percent.
例如去年波爾多地區寒流延後報到，使收成減少了40％。
cold snap寒流
Many growers were worried about another year of anemic production after a series of hailstorms battered fields across France in May.
許多葡萄種植者擔心5月法國各地遭遇一連串冰雹襲擊後，今年產量會減少。
an(a)emic (adj.)貧血的、沒有活力的hailstorm(n.)下得很大的冰雹batter(n.)打擊;襲擊=hit
Apart from ruining the fresh shoots, the storms left humid conditions in their wake, leading to battles against mildew, especially for the increasing number of growers shunning pesticides.
除了破壞新生出的枝條外，暴風雨還帶來潮濕的環境，導致許多種植者受黴菌問題所擾，特別是對越來越多不用農藥的農夫來說。
apart from~除了…之外in the wake of~在…之後;因為..的緣故mildew(n.)黴菌=mo(u)ldshun(v.)避開、避免、迴避、躲避=avoid
Fortunately, the recent dry heat has helped most vineyards fight off the mold.
幸運的是，最近的乾燥熱浪幫助大多數葡萄園擊退黴菌。
Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert told AFP on Monday that this year’s grape output was expected to be “higher than average” after production was hit by weather-related losses last year.
法國農業糧食部長崔佛特週一接受法新社訪問時表示，去年葡萄產量因氣候因素減少，今年產量預期將「高於平均」。
output(n.)產量;輸出=production
The year 2018 should also be a good vintage in terms of quality, the minister said.
部長說，今年生產的葡萄酒品質應該也會相當不錯。
vintage(n.)特定年份釀造的酒、釀造年份(adj.)(酒)上等的in terms of~就…而言