Decanter reports that Singapore-based wine publisher, writer, and consultant Ch’ng Poh Tiong has created a new system of “phonetic translation“ that covers the names of leading chateaus.

The system will offer a certified phonetic translation of the 61 Crus Classes, as well as other members of the Union des Grands Crus such as Petrus, Cheval Blanc and Ausone, in conjunction with the chateaux themselves.

Wherever possible these will also be registered as trademarks – although some have already been registered by ‘opportunistic individuals’ in China, Poh Tiong said.

The article notes that the names of chateaus may be translated differently in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore and that “four or five versions may be in circulation at any one time.” This is on the top of the confusion due to various translations of grape variety names, as recently noted by professor Ma Huiqin (see link below).

See also:
Wine word: A talk with Ch’ng Poh Tiong
Lost in translation: A rosé is a rosé is rosé

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