Historical Document · 1869

Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks a Collection of Recipes for Cups and Other Compounded Drinks

Author: Terrington
Year: 1869
Type: Historical Document

brewing

COOLING CUPS AND DAINTY DRINKS. A COLLECTION OF RECIPES FOR “CUPS” AND OTHER COMPOUNDED DRINKS, AND OF GENERAL INFORMATION ON BEVERAGES OF ALL KINDS. BY . WILLIAM TERRINGTO LONDON AND NEW YORK: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS. 1869. 268. 2. /& LONDON : PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER, MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C. PREFACE. THE original intention of the writer of this work was to produce a guide for the preparation of that now very prevalent kind of beverage called Cups, which should comprise a copious collection of recipes for that delicious class of drinks, to the study of which he has devoted no small portion of his time and attention. In the course of his labours to this end, he found, however, that it was impracticable to restrict him- self within the prescribed limits. The subject grew imperceptibly in his hands; and it became evident that if he adhered to his first plan, his book would be crowded with so many notes appertaining to Wines, Liqueurs, and other matters, as greatly to interfere with the simplicity of the design. He resolved, therefore, to extend the scope of the work, iv. Preface. and to offer to the public a handbook treating of all the Beverages in modern use. He thinks it right to point out, however, that, as the principal object of the book is to furnish a collection of the most approved recipes for the making of Cups (treated of in detail in the Second Part of the work), the earlier portion, containing useful in- formation on the subject of Wines, &., should be regarded rather as introductory to a proper know- ledge of the ingredients from which they are formed than as a special treatise on those Beverages. Modern usage has considerably altered the social habits in vogue with our forefathers in both eating and drinking. All that was heavy, formal, and monotonous in their feasts has, owing to the more genial customs we have been led to adopt through our constant intercourse with France and other countries, given way to the display of a more re- fined taste ; and this departure from old-fashioned ways in the selection of edibles has naturally led to a change no less beneficial in our bibulous doings. It is owing, however, to our extended acquaintance with the finer sorts of Wine, and a nicer discrimina- tion in the choice and order of drinking them, but — still more to the abandonment of the vicious old practice of sitting for hours after dinner to indulge Preface. v in heavy libations, that we may attribute much of that change in our taste to which we have adverted. May we not ascribe to the same cause the relish for Claret Cup, and other beverages of a similar cha- racter, which has grown up amongst us? Some of these preparations are, indeed, of a flavour so ex- quisite, that the epicure may well be tempted to exclaim— “ One sip Will bathe the drooping spirit in delight Beyond the bliss of dreams.” In a work purporting to touch upon every kind of Beverage, the reader will, of course, expect to find some account of the varied category of Ameri- can drinks—of those Transatlantic “notions’—many of which, owing to their racy character, are pro- perly styled “ Sensations” by our Yankee cousins. We can promise that in this respect he will have no reason to be dissatisfied. A choice collection of these is given, the greater part of which well deserve the celebrity that attaches to them; and, as an occasional relish, all may claim to be regarded as both wholesome and exhilarating. It is, perhaps, needless to add that Ponche @ la Romaine, and the other varieties of the national beverage of Punch, as well as the important items vi Preface. of Ale, Beer, and Cider, are duly treated of in these pages. The author has also given especial attention to the subject of Refrigeration—almost a new art among us—as well as to that of aérated waters, and other draughts so much sought after in the summer season, Useful information is also afforded on the subject of Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, and other cwps of the temperate order, as well as on certain liqueurs made with their aid. In conclusion, he trusts that his manual of CooL- Inc Cups aND Dainty DRINKS may be found to convey much sound information on beverages of all kinds, and that it may be deemed a not unworthy companion of the better class of works devoted to the pleasant topic of Good Cheer. CONTENTS. PART I. GENERAL BEVERAGES. Origin of Vinous Drinks Wines of France : Vins de Bordeaux . Chateau Margaux Lafitte . . Iatour .. Léoville . . Larose .. St. Julien. Haut Brion Vin-de-Grave (white) . oe e © we we Ch&teau d’Yquem (do. ) Sauterne (do.) . Barsac, &c. (do. ) WINES. PAGE 1 | Wines of France : Champagnes .. . Vin de la Maréchale —q@ay.... — d’Hautvilliers . — d’Epernay . WIWVWY WY VO — de Verzy, Verzenay, Bouzy, &. (red) . Burgundies. . . Chambertin (red) . . Clos-de-Vougedt (do.) . Romanée Conti (do.) . Richebourg (do.) Corton (do.) . . eee vill Contents. PAGE PAGE Wines of France—Burgundies : Wines of Spain : Beaune (do.) 18 Sherry ..... . 265 Pommard, &c. (do.) 13 Other kinds, red and Montrachet (white) . 13 white . . . 25, 29, 32 Muersalt (do.) . . . 18 Canary and Madeira . . 30 Wines of the Rhéie : Wines of Italy : St. Peray . . 13 Marsala. . . 31 White and Red Her- Asti, Aleatico, &. 33 mitage. . . . . 13 | Wines of Greece: Cote R6ti. . . . 14 Cyprus, St. Elie, Santo- Roussillon, Rivesaltes, ke. 15 rin, &. . . . - 34, 35 Wines of the Rhine : Wines of Austria and Hun- Schloss Johannisberger 16 gary : Steinberger (Cabinet) . 16 Steinberg Véslauer, &c. . 35 Riidesheimer, Graftenberg 16 Imperial Tokay, Menos 36, 37 Markobrunner, and Hock- Carlowitz, Erlauer, White heim . . 16 Muscat, &.. . . . 87 Asmannshausen (red) . 17 | Wines of Australia : Wines of the Neckar : Cwarra . . 37 Liebfrauenmilch . . . 19 | Wines of Cape of Good Hope: Wines of the Moselle : Constantia, &e. . . 87 Griinhaiiser, Scharzber- Wines of U. 8S. of America: ger, and Brauneberger 20 Catawba. . . . - 38 Wines of Portugal : Home-made Wines . . . 39 Port . . 21 | Management of Wine Cellar, Lisbon, Bucellas, and Cal- bottling, decanting, &c. . 41 cavella . . . . . 25 ALCOHOL. Propertiesof . . . . . 45 Gin . 2... 50 Brandy...» . 46 Rum... . . 51 Whisky. . . . 49 Arrack, &e. -. 52 ALCOHOLIC CORDIALS. Maraschino, Kirschwasser . 53 | Noyeau, Curagoa. . . . 54 Kimmel, Chartreuse . . 54 Contents. LIQUEURS AND SYRUPS. Capillaire . . Syrup of Almonds (Oren). Mock Arrack . . . Aniseed . Cherry, and other Fruit Bran- dies Cassis, and Cinnamon Cordial Crémes, Citron and 11 others Curacao. . . oe. Eau d’ Argent, ke. . Elixir de Violettes Elephant’s Milk . . . . Goldwasser . oe Ginger and Tansey Gin . Gingerette . . 2. 1. 2. HuiledeTh6 . . 1... Juniper Ratafia . ... Kimmel. . Kirschwasser . . 2. . . Life of Man . . . Liqueur de Quartre Fruits . - Thé a la Russe . @’Henri . . Liquodilla . . oe Nectar, Imperial . . Noyeau ‘(6 recipes) Noyeau Ratafia PAGE 58 61 62 62 63 65 66 68 70 71 71 71 Orange Nectar Persico . Peppermint Parfait Amour Peach Brandy Imperial Quince Liqueur Raspberry or Stranbery Liqueur Raspberry Brandy Ratafia d’Angelique . de Fruits (3 recipes) of Hawthorn a la Violette . of Oranges — d’Ecorces ——— various (5 recipes) . Rose Cordial . Rosolio . . Sighs of Love . Shrub. . Sirop de Thé . —— d’Absinthe . ——deGomme . Syrup of Almonds Usquebdugh . Vanilla Milk . BITTER DRINKS. Wine bitters oe American Stoughton bitters. Spirituous bitters . a at ; Brady bitters Essence of ‘bitters . . ele various (10 recipes) 80, 81 x Contents. ALE AND BEER. PAGE Antiquity of ale, &.. . 86 Alehouses first licensed . 88 Brewing . . - - 91 Burton and Scotch ales . 93 Paleale. . . . . . - 94 PAGE Malt and hops. . . . 95, 96 Bottling and tapping beer,&e. 96 Management of beer cellar. 97 Elderberry beer - 100 Ginger beer (10 varieties of) 101 Spruce beer . . . . . 105 Sarsaparilla or Lisbon beer . Treacle beer . . 105 106 CIDER AND MEAD. Cider, how made. . . Scotch method . .. Mock cider. . . . - 107 . 108 - lil 111 112 112 Champagne cider. . . . Metheglin . . . . « . AERATED WATERS. Aérated chalybeate water Carrara or lime water . . 113 Lithia . . .... . 114 Potass, soda, seltzer, and magnesia. . . . . . 114 Seltzogene machine . . . 115 German mineral waters. . 116 Effervescent draughts (38 re- - 113 cips) ..... . 117 Citratickali . . . . . 117 Sherbet. . . . . . . 117 Imperial . . 2... . 117 Seidlitz powders . . . . 118 Chalybeated soda. . . . 118 Refrigerent draught . . . 119 Lemon sherbet (5 recipes) . 120 Orange sherbet . . . . 120 Aérated lemonade. . . . 120 Magnesian ditto (2 recipes) . 120 Milk lemonade (3 recipes) . 121, Orgeat ditto . . . . . 121 Ginger ditto . . . . . 121 Lemonade (2 recipes). . . 121 Effervescent syrup of lemon. 122 Lemon syrup .. . - 122 —- whey . 122 — shrub... . .122 ——- syllabubs . . . . 122 King’scup. . . . . . 128 Contents. xi REFRIGERATION. PAGE . 124 « 125 . 126 How to ice wines... Use of refrigeration . Patent freezing jug . . . PAGE Toice water . . . - . 127 To make snow ice, &c. . . 128 To make freezing mixtures . 129 TEMPERATE BEVERAGES. Tea, ite wholesomeness . . 131 Coffee, when first known . 133 —— best mode of making 136 —- medical properties of 137 Chicory. . . . ~~ « 188 Clarification of coffee. . . 139 Café liqueurs . . ..140, 141 Cocoa and chocolate . . 141 liqueurs made with . 145 ESSENCES AND SPICES USED IN MAKING CUPS. Alphabetical list of . . 146-155 PART II. CUPS. Ancient cups . . . . 156 Old drinking terms and cus- toms. . - « . « . 158 Ancient skull at Newstead Abbey . 162 xii Contents. WINE CUPS. PAGE Claret cup &laBrunow . . 164 &la Webber . . 165 for a large gather- ing. 2 . . 165 Balaklava nectar. 166 a la Wilberforce . 166 Cambridge . . 167 Oxford. . . . 167 ala Saltoun . . 167 —— A la Stockdale . 167 alaCutler . . 168 &la Maclean. . 168 alaGuy . . . 168 ———— ala Knott. . . 168 alaKeble . . 168 ala Gardner. . 169 ala Rawlings . 169 —— AalaJeanne . . 169 hot. . . . . 169 Badmintop Claret cup a la Morrey . . . . . . 169 ———- No.2 . 170 Burgundy cup (4recipes) . 170 ala Orbell . 171 Crimean cup a la Marmora. . . . . . 171 Chainpagne cup & la Brunow 172 ——ala Wyndham 172 ala Ariadne 172 ———_-——Ala Parisienne 172 ala Tanfield 172 5 other kinds 173 —— — PAGE Rhenish wine cups . . . 174 Asmannshausen . . . . 174 Heidelberg. . . . . . 174 Rhenish May Trank . . . 175 Other Rhenish cups . 175, 176 Moselle cup, 4 la Sir John Bayley . . . .. .177 6 other kinds 177, 178 Sauterne cup . . - 178 - 6 other Kinds. 179 Chablis cups (3 kinds) . . 179 Sherry cups (11 kinds) -180, 181 Port wine do. (3 kinds) . . 181 Cider cups (9 kinds) . 182, 188 Ale and beercups. . . . 184 Lovingcups . . . . . 185 Councillor's cup . . . . 185 Portercup. . . . . . 186 Hotcup .... . . 186 ‘Tween-deck cup . . . . 186 Copuscup . . - 186 Other ale and beer cups . . 187 Shandy Gaff, Cooper, &. . 187 Purl. . . - « . 187 Bishop a la Cutler - « « 188 Bishop (a good) . . « 188 Pope, Cardinal, Archbishop, &e. . . . 189 Churchwarden, &e, - . . 190 Cocktails: (A*) Brandy, Gin, and Whisky 190 * The letter A attached to this and several of the succeeding articles denotes that they are American drinks; and whon the letter E is appended, that they are English. Contents. PAGE Cocktails (A) : Cider . . . . ~~ . 191 Crusta of Brandy, &. . 191 Juleps (A): Pineapple . . . . . 192 Whisky . . . . . . 192 Gin... . .. . 198 White-wine. . . . . 193 Season Ticket . . . . 193 Mulled Egg-wine (E). . . 193 Sleeper (A). . . . . . 193 Locomotive (A) . . . . 193 Hot Egg-nogg (A) . . . 194 Baltimore Egg-nogg (A). . 194 Iced Egg-nogg (A) . . . 194 General Harrison’s Fee: nogg (A). . . - . 194 Negus (A & BE) 2 ee 195 Gin or Whisky Sling (A) . 195 Toddy (A&E) . .. . 195 Apple Toddy (A). . . . 195 Whisky Sling (A). . . . 195 Claret Granato (A & E). . 195 Brandy Smash (2 recipes) (A) 195 Hollands Smash (A). . . 196 Cobblers (A): Sherry (2 recipes) . . . 196 Champagne. . . . . 196 Hock... .. . . 196 Sauterne. . . . . . 197 Sangaree. . . . . . 197 Brandy Sangaree . . . 197 Nectar(A). . . - « . 197 Soda Nectar (A) . . - . 197 Nectar for 90° in the shade (A). 2 ee ee 6 197 Spider(A). . . . . . 197 Stone Fence (A) . . . . 197 xl PAGE Stone Wall (A) . . 198 Saloop (E) . . - . 198 Rumfustian (A & ¥). - 198 Prima Donna (A). . . . ** Hour Before” (A) . Ribs(A) . . Ice-Cream Soda-Water (A). Ching Ching (A) . . “Tickle my Fancy” (A) Apple-Water (2 kinds) @). Aleberry (E) Ale Posset (E). . . . “ Arf-and-Arf” (A & E) . *¢ Asses’ Milk” (A & E) Sir Walter Raleigh’s Ale Pos- set(E) . . oe Birthday Syllabub ‘®) oe Black Currant Drink (E) Black Stripe (A) . . . Brandy Champerelle (A). Egg Flip (A&E). . . Lamb’s Wool (KE) . . . Wassail Bowl (E). . . Mulled Wine (A&E) . Wine Whey (A&E)... Floster (A). . 2. we Toast-and-Water . . . West Country Syllabub (E) . Negus(A&E) . . Sir Walter Scott’s Wassail Bowl (E). . . .. Pope’s Posset (E) . . . Eau Sucré (French) . . . Egg Flip(E) . .... Brandy Punch (A) . . . Lait de Poule (French) . . Hippocras (Red) (E). . Lait Sucré (French) . 198 - 198 - 198 198 - 198 - 198 199 - 199 199 199 . 200 200 200 - 200 200- - 200 . 200 201 . 201 - 201 201 . 201 - 202 202 - 202 - 202 - 202 202 202 203 203 - 203 - 203 xiv PAGE White-wine Whey (A & E) . 203 Hot spiced ale . . . . 204 Parisian pousse caf6. . . 204 Pousse ’hmour . . . . 204 Negus . . 1... « 204 Soda negus . . . . . 204 Mulled wine . . . «. © 204 To mull wine . . . 205 To mull wine a la Coleman . 205 Red or white currant water. 206 Black currant water. . . 206 Cherry water . . 206 Contents. PUNCH. General remarks on. . . 208 Recipe for making . . . 210 West Indian Planter’s . . 211 A la Regent (original) . 212 Cutler’s rum . . . . 212 E.G. Coleman’s . . . « 218 Oxford . . ... - . 218 Bannister’s milk . . . 213 Cambridge milk . . » 214 Milk, for immediate use. . 214 G.M. Gurton’s . . . . 214 Ten. . . oe . 215 Yankee. . «© . . . « 215 Francatelli’s . . . © . 215 Billy Dawson’s . . . 216 Trinidad ; . . - . © 216 Mississippi (A) - . . 216 Vauxhall Souvenir . 216 Roderick Random, or Bumbo 216 Brandy (A) . . 217 Ruby ......- . 217 Russian. . 2. . . 217 Vanilla. . . . 217 PAGE Spring fruit water . 206 Raspberry and strawberry water. 2. . . 206 Effervescing water . 206 Orangeade. . . . . . 207 Knickerbocker & la Monsieur (A) . . 207 Knickerbocker a la Madame (A). . 2 ee 5 207 White Lion (A) 7 2 s « 207 St.‘Charles (A) . . . 207 Benson Hill (A) . . 207 Regent's. . . . . . . 217 Guy's. - . 218 Ponche a la Parisienne - . 218 Henry Knight's . . . . 218 Orbell’s . - . . 218 Imperial . . . . . . 219 Orange . . . . 219 Apple ...... . 219 Essence of . . . . . . 219 Gin, ala Garrick. . . . 220 — ala Terrington. . . 220 —alaJ. Day... . 220 —— ala Burroughs. . . 220 —orSpider. . . . , 220 —alaGooch . . . 220 — for bottling . . 220 —alaFuller . . . . 221 Whisky. .... . 221 ala Taylor . . 221 a la Barrett. . 221 Ponche & Ja Romaine, a la Stewart. . . . . 221 Contents. PAGE “Ponche & la Romaine a la Branning ee es 221 —— a la Montro: » . 222 ala Jones . . . 222 — ala Hastings. . . 222 xV PAGE Ponche a la Romaine a la Hall 222 TABLE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Referred to in this work . & la Jeanes . 222 ala Somerset . . 228 a la Reid . . 228 Be ee Digitized by Google COOLING CUPS AND DAINTY DRINKS. WINES. —o— Wine, that glorious juice of the grape, elegantly designated by an ancient poet as a recompense given for the miseries incurred by mankind through ‘the Deluge, has puzzled poets and historians in all ages to account satisfactorily for its discovery. It has been ascribed to Noah, and many other ancient celebrities, but its origin has been accounted for in so misty and vague a manner, and accompanied by circumstances so fabulous, that we forbear all attempts at unravelling the web of its ancient history, and propose to come at once to a descrip- tion of its best-known varieties, and of the chief characteristics of those kinds with which we are now most familiar. The Vine, which is a native of the middle regions of the temperate zone, has been an object B 2 Wines. of culture from the earliest ages, and its history is inseparably connected with those countries where it flourishes. It is capable of producing many varie- ties of wines, possessing different qualities, the result of peculiarities of soil and climate, as well as of the aspect it presents to the sun, and other causes, many of which are not yet well ascertained. Thus it happens that one vineyard, perhaps sepa- rated from the next by merely a few stakes, and without particular difference of soil, culture, or aspect, may produce a far superior wine to its neighbour. Sir Emerson Tennant tells us, that,— “The finest known wines are the produce of soils the combination and proportions of whose ingre- dients are extremely rare and exceptional ; and co- operating with these, they require the agency of peculiar degrees of light, moisture, and heat. The richest wine of France, Italy, Hungary, Madeira, and Teneriffe are grown on the sites of extinct vol- canoes.” If proof be required of the value of the adage, “not to trust to appearances,” we would recommend a visit to some of the celebrated vine- lands of Europe; for example, those of Médoc, near Bordeaux, where the traveller’s classical associations connected with the vine would be much disturbed on viewing the cropped and stunted expanse of Médoc. 3 bushes attached to low espaliers rising about two feet from the ground, and producing grapes which look like over-ripe black currants. Yet these un- promising grapes are those which produce the renowned wines of Lafitte and Chateau Margaux, worth, at least, ten shillings a bottle. It seems an established fact that the fruit of vines highly grown are not so productive as the fruit of low-trained plants ; and in observing the usages of the ancients, it is surprising how small is the change that the lapse of time has brought into the culture of the vine in Italy. It appears the plant is still grafted and managed there as it was in the days of Varro, — author of De Re Rustica, who died 28 Bc. In other countries where the culture of the grape has been more scientifically treated, the varieties have been astonishingly multiplied; but in Italy the vines are allowed to follow their natural mode of growth, and are simply trained picturesquely amongst trees and on trellis-work. Let us now direct our attention to the glorious vintage-season, the annual festival of Médoc,— October, “the wine month,” as it is called,—when the ruby tears of the grape are made into the most delicious beverage—a wine destined to find a wel- come at the halls and palaces of wealthy epicures B2 4 Wines. in various countries. For weeks previously, the weather is anxiously watched from day to day ; for upon a continuance of weeks of fine weather the savour and bouquet of the wine essentially depend. Warmed by the glare of an unclouded sun, tem- pered by mild westerly winds, and moistened by dews, the grapes ripen and attain their exquisite flavour. When all is ready for the gathering, every one is astir, The contents of the vehicles which come loaded from the vineyard are no sooner deposited in the cuvier, or wine-press, than the treaders jump in and proceed to stamp out the purple juice, standing in it almost up to their knees. The wine-press consists of shallow tubs of different sizes, with holes in the side level with the bottom, from which the juice runs out, and passing through a sieve is strained from the husks into vessels below, ready to receive it. The treaders continue thus employed till all the juice has passed through into the vessels below. It takes nearly an hour to tread out all the juice from a good-sized cuvier ; the juice is then emptied from the receiving vessels into large vats, and the residue remaining in the cuvier is added to the juice in the vats. When these are sufficiently full, the fermentation proceeds ; and so powerful is the emanation of carbonic acid Claret. 5 gas, that no one can enter farther than the doorway. There the listener may hear strange bubblings solemnly echoing in the cool and dark hall, and which proclaim that a great change is taking place,—that these vats of mawkish, sweet, juice are being con- verted into noble and generous wine. There is some- thing wonderful in this mysterious change. Nature will have no intrusion during her mystic opera tions. The atmosphere around and near the vats would be death to any who should venture near, fenced in, as the vats are, during the grand trans- mutation by a halo of stifling carbonic gas, The French are generally considered the best vine-cultivators in the world. The process of wine- treading is pursued very generally in France, being considered superior, in many vine districts, to the employment of mechanical squeezing. But this last process is used for expressing the juice of the grape for the sparkling wines of Champagne, and it is also the case in Germany. * The wines known in France as Vins de Bordeaua, are with us classed under the general name of Claret, a name signifying that it is a mixed wine of a clear red colour,— “ Claret, sweet as the lips we press, In sparkling fancy, as we drain the bowl.” 6 Wines. The district in which these wines are produced was the ancient province of Gascony (now the depart- ment of the Gironde), and is estimated to possess above 37,000 acres of vineyard, thickly planted, and constituting one of the most valuable wine districts in France. The popularity of Claret has fluctuated very much in this country, but it now promises to become as common in England as it was nearly twohundred years ago, when our hostility to Louis XIV. and his policy resulted in breaking off, as far as possible, all commercial relations with our neighbours, and led to the introduction of the red wines of Portugal, for the avowed purpose of superseding the use of Claret and Burgundy. Claret ‘was much esteemed in England during the noon- tide of chivalry, when the Black Prince kept court at Bordeaux. Froissart says that, on one occa- sion, a fleet of 200 merchantmen came from England to Bordeaux for wine. In process of time, however, the Bordeaux wines were super- seded in England by the sack produced in Spain and the Canaries, which, with the wines of the Rhine, held sway till the Stuarts again brought Claret in, and, long after the differential duty im- posed on it by the Union, it was the favourite potable of the Scotch. Haut Brion. 7 Claret is divided into several classes, rated according to their excellence. The chief vine tracts are those of Médoc, Graves, Palus, and Blanche, each particular vineyard producing a peculiar sort of vine; that of Médoc yielding the glorious vintage of Ch&teau Margaux, Lafitte, Latour, and others, such as Léoville, Larose, St. Julien, St. Estéphe, Branne Mouton, and other celebrated red wines, The famous Haut Brion is produced from the vine tract of Le Graves, which also produces the white wine known as Vin-de- Grave. The wines of the flat and fertile Palus are deep-coloured, full-bodied, rough and hard, when new, but they improve much by keeping. Being well adapted for long voyages, they are known as cargo wines. The Blanches, or dry white wine dis- trict, gives us the wines known as Sauterne, Barsac, &c. Among the choice white wines produced in this district the most famous is Chéteau d’ Yquem. This celebrated wine is now getting into great favour in this country, and commands high prices. The generality of the wines of Bordeaux, through containing little alcohol, will stand and keep well. They are greatly improved by a sea voyage ; indeed it often happens that wines of a lower growth will become so much improved as to almost § | Wines. equal the finer growths. The characteristics of the best red growths are a bright deep ruby or violet colour, exquisite bouquet, of the flavour of the rasp- berry and violet, a soft silky taste to the palate, and possessing the quality of endurance. Ordinary claret is one of the most refreshing and invigorating of beverages. It is easy of digestion, and well suited for general use, especially in warm climates, being a mildly stimulating drink. The district has been estimated to produce upwards of 85,000,000 gallons of wine. Champagne.—Let us now turn to Champagne —“the spring dew of the spirit—the heart’s rain ;” this is the produce of vineyards in the ancient province, so called, which now compre- hends the departments of Aube, Ardennes, Marne, and Haut Marne: the surface of the country presents extensive plains with ranges of hills. The wines are distinguished, according to the site of the vineyards, into river or mountain growths, the former being for the most part white, the latter red. The vineyards in the department of Marne produce the most esteemed wines, those of the neighbourhood of Epernay and Rheims being the most famous among them. Epernay, which is situated between hills in the midst of the vine-lands, Champagne. 9 may be designated the head-quarters of Champagne ; for here, and in its immediate vicinity, is the best vine-land, the most extensive cellarage, and the finest palatial residences of the more eminent manufac- turers. The cellarage of one firm alone, that of ““Moét and Chandon,” is said to be five miles in extent, all cut out of the caleareous rock, and con- taining on an average 5,000,000 bottles of wine. There are other cellars equalling the above-named for vastness and capacity, and in them is stowed the wine of manufacturers whose names and brands are known to the whole civilized world. Champagne, being better known by the name of the makers than by the designation of the vineyards that produce it, with the exception of a few choice growths among the white, is the produce of the old vineyard “ Sillery,” anciently known as Vin de la Maré chale. This wine is of an amber hue, exquisite bouquet, with a clear pleasant dry taste; and the wines of Ay are sparkling, bright, and possess a peculiarly pine-apple aroma, Those of Mareuil, Hautvilliers, Pierry, Epernay, and some others, are, with the choice red growths of Verzy, Verzenay, Bouzy, &c., much sought after by connoisseurs ; but the Red (or Mountain Champagne) wines, though of good colour and body, are, on the whole, less esteemed 10 Wines. than the white. The Pink (“Champagne rose’’) differs only in the manufacture from those which are colourless, Sparkling Champagne (grand mous-. seux) is the result of incomplete fermentation, and, being the most sparkling, and invariably the brightest, is very captivating; but it is not the choicest, the confined carbonic acid holding the wine in the volatile state so much desired. It has not the peculiar bouquet in so marked a degree as the creaming or slightly sparkling wine (crémens, or demi-mousseux). The wine most esteemed by con- noisseurs is the “still,” so called by reason of its being bottled after the fermentation has ceased, thereby constituting it a more natural, and, there- fore, more wholesome wine. Champagne wine has been recommended by the faculty as a valuable medicine for keeping up the system during exhaustion. It contains more or less carbonic acid, the result of which is to carry off the effect of the spirit, and to stimulate the system, without subsequent depression. It contains little mucilaginous matter, and, being a thin wine, is easily digested. As a stimulus, it is the least injurious ; while, as a tonic, it ranks much lower. than most other wines. Bad or fictitious Champagne is highly injurious to health ; hence the importance Champagne. ll of judgment in the selection and purchase of this wine, all not being Champagne that is represented as such. The brands and names of the best manu- facturers being closely imitated, a good test of genuine Champagne is the rapidity with which it throws down its head; hence the desirability of using a tall glass, in preference to the flat broad glasses now so much in vogue. Good Champagne does not require much iceing. Mr. Brande tells us: “The prevalent notion, that a glass of Champagne cannot be too quickly swallowed is erroneous ; and it is no bad test of the quality of Champagne to have it exposed for some time in a wine-glass, when, if originally of the highest order, it will ‘be found to have lost its carbonic acid gas, but to have retained its body and flavour, which had before been con- cealed by its effervescence. Champagne, therefore, should not be drunk till this active effervescence is over, by those who would relish the above charac- teristic quality.” The Champagne district is estimated to produce annually on an average 52,000,000 gallons of wine. The manufacturers sustain much loss from the bursting of bottles. That, and the care demanded in the manufacture, and expense entailed before a bottle is ready to be sent to market, renders genuine 12 Wines. Champagne an expensive wine. Champagne in- tended for the English market is much drier than that intended for the American and Russian. The French take wine excessively iced, and drink Cham- pagne towards the close of dinner. This wine first attained the great celebrity it still enjoys in the seventeenth century, but it was noted as a first- class wine in the thirteenth century (see Bataille des Vins). Adjoining the district of Champagne, in the South (and indeed a continuation of the same wine tract), is the ancient province of the Dukes of Burgundy—les princes des bons vins. Its vineyards produce the glorious wine known as Burgundy— “with all its sunlight glow.” This wine during the last century provoked a redoubtable controversy between the professors of physic and men of science of the time. The dis- pute, which related to the comparative merits of Burgundy and Champagne, lasted for nearly a cen- tury, when a solemn decree was pronounced by the Faculty of Medicine in favour of Champagne; a verdict which certainly was not agreed to by the great Napoleon, whose favourite drink was Cham- bertin, a celebrated kind of Burgundy. Some of the vines in the celebrated vineyard of Clos-de- Vougedt, are said to be 300 years old. This wine, Burgundy. 13 with Romanée Conti, Richebourg, La Tache, Corton, Beaune, Volnay, Pommard, and some others, all rank as delicious, delicate wines. The best Bur- gundy for travelling is Corton, which is a sound, enduring wine. Macon and Beaujolais are also good wines. Of the white Burgundies, the best known are Montrachet (so celebrated for its high perfume), Muersalt, the beautiful amber colour of the Goutte d’Or, and Chablis, which is a white, dry, flinty-tasting wine. Burgundy wines are in much request in France. The district is estimated to produce annually 75,000,000 gallons. The produce is classified into growths, as those of Haute Bourgogne, Basse Bourgogne, and Céte d’Or ; this last producing the choicest growths. Burgundy is stronger than Claret, and possesses an exquisite aroma, which, with its delicious flavour, crown it in the estimation of epicures as the very King of Wines. Descending the Rhdéne, passing the St. Péray district, which yields wine of no mean order, we come to the vicinity of the town of Tain, where is grown one of the finest wines France produces, the celebrated and scarce White and Red Hermitage. These wines derive that name from the ruins of an old hermitage that still exists on the summit 14 Wines. of the hill on whose slopes are planted the vines which yield the choicest quality. Red Hermitage is highly regarded for its full body, dark purple colour, exquisite perfume and flavour ; but its bril- liant colour sensibly fades after it has been kept twenty years. There are five classes of Hermitage wine (as the production of all the immediate dis- trict is named); the best, or Ermitage paille, is very choice and expensive. Céte Réti is a generous red clear wine, with a slight bitter taste, and violet bouquet. Gauphine is sound, useful wine, grown in the Heérault. Roussillon, on the borders of the Mediterranean, produces some of the deepest-coloured and fullest- bodied of French wines. One of them, Masdeu (which is the name for God’s field or vineyard), is a full-bodied, bright, red wine, with a bouquet not unlike Claret, yet partaking of a Port character ; in fact, so much like Port, that a good deal of it is sold and used in England as Port. It was the red wines of Roussillon which formed the basis of the famous Bristol Ports, so well known in the last century. In proximity to Masdeu, come the rich, luscious wines Frontignac, Rivesaltes, Lunel, and many Rhenish Wines. 15 others, but little known in this country. On the seaboard of this district, 15 miles S.W. of Mont- pellier, is the port and town of Cette, famous as the great manufacturing depdt of fictitious wines, and liqueurs. We will now visit another land,— ““ Where the Rhine his course does bend, Rich vine-covered hills among.” The Rhine and the Vine have for centuries been associated together, and the Germans are as fond of their wines as they are of their river, which they fondly call the Father of Wine. That glorious river, with its majestic beauty and vine-clad banks, offers to the admiration of the traveller a lovelier scene than any other river can present; more espe- cially along its course between Mentz and Coblentz. The choicest vintages are confined to a small dis- trict called the Rheingau, which extends from Riidesheim to Mentz. The vine-tract of Hochheim, a village situated on the river Main, producing wines of like nature and excellence, which are classed with the Rhine growths. These wines are extensively imported into this country, and it would seem that this last-mentioned kind especially, has, by our abbreviation of its name to “ Hock,” served as a 12 Chr ten that Fre: atta seve clas: Vin trac Bur 33 phys pate, tary, Facu verdi the vi Vougr is Tae tue si whowe slopes are planted the vines ve are: ue chowest quality. Red Hemitage 7 regaried fx its fall body, dark purple visi! f© ecposte perme and favo; bt is br da acer semahy fades after it has been kept reeecr reas, There are five clases of Hermitage woe x ty peodaction of all the immediate dis- ots sace! : the best, or Ermitage paille, is ve xawe aad expense. E+ is a generous red clear wine, with a ay : Setzer taste, and roles bouquet, “dae is sound, wsefal wine, grown in the Bene ZL axe ce the borders of the Mediterranean, vars wen of the deepest-coloured and fullest- puns of Freoch wines. One of them, Masdew se. = tbe name for God's field or vineyard), is a &- aaad bright red wine, with a bouquet not wm as (uaret ret partaking of 8 Port character ; va far, ech hike Port, that a good deal of itis po ani goed in Bagand as Port It was the red which formed the basis of the | ,, Masdeu, come the rich, luscious rivesaltes, Lunel, amid Mai je 1 by Goo le Rhenish Wines. others, but little known in seaboard of this district, 15 milea #07. 4 Want- pellier, is the port and town of Cette, SAmow 14 the great manufacturing depot of firtisicona wines and liqueurs, fF rata this conse, Oy ine We will now visit another land,— “Where the Rhine his course does bend, Rich vine-covered hills among.” The Rhine and the Vine have for centuries Ley, associated together, and the Germans are as find «s- their wines as they are of their river, whic, “Hats fondly call the Father of Wine. Thet siornn, river, with its majestic beauty and Vineet aie offers, to the admiration of the traves7 i OPC Scene than any other river can prewat: nen: kn cially along its course besoween Messzaw | The choicest vintages are confirei Were , trict called the Rheingau, Whit +... 2 Riidesheim to Mentz, The vine-tew: + -, a or a village situated on the river Mau irv. . of like nature and excellence, Wu a _ the Rhine growths, These wines we — imported into this country. mist 2 >... a this last-m- kind a= 16 Wines. familiar designation with us of all Rhenish wines. Of the growths of the district of the Rheingau, which is 10 miles long by about 14 broad, the choicest is Schloss (or castle of) Johannisberg. This ig a rare “cabinet wine?’ and has been famous for centuries ; it is produced close under the walls of the old abbey of Johannisberg. The old monks had an especial regard for their vineyard, and were very chary of its produce. For several years past the estate has belonged to Prince Metternich, who showed that he appreciated his much-envied 62 acres of vineyard, by the care he caused to be exercised on its yield. Curiously, the vines which produce the créme de la créme of Johannisberger grow over and near the cellars. A worthy rival of this precious wine is Steinberg, also a “cabinet wine,” the pro- duction of 108 acres of vine-land which belongs to the Duke of Nassau. This wine is the strongest of all Rhine wines. Both these wines are very choice and costly. Riidesheimer is also a choice wine, and the vineyard producing it is said to have been planted by Charlemagne ; Graftenberg, Marko- brunner, Rothenberg, and a few others, which are all well known and distinguished for their choice growths. These wines, which are all white, are soft and delicate in flavour. The best red Rhine - Rhenish Wines. 47 wine is grown at Asmannshausen, a village about two miles N.W. of Riidesheim, but the quantity produced is small. This wine was famed as far back as 1108. The durability of the wines of the Rhine is remarkable. It is this excellent quality most probably that originated the singular custom of storing the Rhine wines in vessels of enormous magnitude, such as the great tun of Heidelberg (built in 1751), which was 30 feet in length and 20 in depth; and that of the Gruningen tun, 30 feet long by 18 in diameter ; also the tun of Tiibingen, 24 feet long by 16 in diameter, and many others of sizes closely approaching those named, it being a great point of rivalry amongst the wine proprietors to produce these huge vessels, which were always kept full, either by replacing each quantity drawn with the like quantity of wine of a similar strength, or by adding washed pebbles to fill up the void. The peculiar qualities of these wines appear to form an exception to the prevalent chemical theories; their sharpness of flavour occasions a suspicion of acidity, yet they are highly agreeable, abounding in delicate aroma, and are also dry and sound, while they contain very little alcohol. “In a word,” as Dr. Henderson re- marks, “the wines of the Rhine may be regarded . Cc . 18 Wines. as constituting a distinct order by themselves. Some of the higher sorts, indeed, resemble very much the Vins de Grave, but in general they are drier than the French white wines, and are charac- terized by a delicate flavour and aroma, called in the country gare, which is quite peculiar to them, and of which it would be in vain to attempt the description. A notion prevails that they are natu- rally acid; and the inferior kinds are no doubt so; but this is not the constant character of the Rhine wines, which in good years have not any perceptible acidity to the taste—at least, not more than is com- mon to them, with the growth of warmer regions. But their chief distinction is their extreme dura- bility, in which they are not surpassed by any other species of wine.” Of this durability an interesting anecdote is told. In the autumn of 1800, Lord Nelson left the Mediterranean, and, on his way to England, stopped at Hamburg. <A wine- merchant, seventy years of age, who had some highly prized Rhine wine of the vintage of 1625, which had been in his keeping fifty years, felt desirous to bestow some on an extraordinary occa- sion, and present it to some celebrated and worthy personage. Accordingly, he asked Lord Nelson to accept six dozen of this matchless wine, hoping that Rhenish Wines. 19 part of it would have the honour to mix wit