Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines   By: Henry Vizetelly (1820-1894)

and

OTHER SPARKLING WINES,

Collected During Numerous Visits to the Champagne and Other Viticultural Districts of France, and the Principal Remaining Wine Producing Countries of Europe.

by

HENRY VIZETELLY,

Chevalier of the Order of Franz Josef. Wine Juror for Great Britain at the Vienna and Paris Exhibitions of 1873 and 1878. Author of "The Wines of the World Characterized and Classed," &c.

WITH ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS, Drawn by Jules Pelcoq, W. Prater, Bertall, etc., From Original Sketches.

London: Ward, Lock, and Co., Salisbury Square. 1879.

This little book scarcely needs a preface, as it speaks sufficiently for itself. It is for the most part the result of studies on the spot of everything of interest connected with the various sparkling wines which it professes to describe. Neither pains nor expense have been spared to render it both accurate and complete, and the large number of authentic engravings with which it is illustrated will conduce, it is hoped, to its value.

Uniform with the present work and the Author's "Facts About Sherry,"

FACTS ABOUT PORT AND MADEIRA,

Including Chapters on the Wines Vintaged Around Lisbon and the Wines of Teneriffe.

Illustrated with 80 Engravings from Original Sketches.

CONTENTS.

PAGE. I. THE ORIGIN OF CHAMPAGNE.

The Early Vineyards of the Champagne Their Produce esteemed by Popes and Kings, Courtiers and Prelates Controversy regarding the rival Merits of the Wines of Burgundy and the Champagne Dom Perignon's happy Discovery of Sparkling Wine Its Patrons under Louis Quatorze and the Regency The Ancient Church and Abbey of Hautvillers Farre and Co.'s Champagne Cellars The Abbey of St. Peter now a Farm Existing Remains of the Monastic Buildings The Tombs and Decorations of the Ancient Church The Last Resting Place of Dom Perignon The Legend of the Holy Dove Good Champagne the Result of Labour, Skill, Minute Precaution, and Careful Observation 9

II. THE VINTAGE IN THE CHAMPAGNE. THE VINEYARDS OF THE RIVER.

Ay, the Vineyard of Golden Plants Summoning the Vintagers by Beat of Drum Excitement in the Surrounding Villages The Pickers at Work Sorting the Grapes Grapes Gathered at Sunrise the Best Varieties of Vines in the Ay Vineyards Few of the Growers in the Champagne Crush their own Grapes Squeezing the Grapes in the "Pressoir" and Drawing off the Must Cheerful Glasses Round The Vintage at Mareuil Bringing in the Grapes on Mules and Donkeys The Vineyards of Avenay, Mutigny, and Cumières Damery and Adrienne Lecouvreur, Maréchal de Saxe, and the obese Anna Iwanowna The Vineyards of the Côte d'Epernay Boursault and its Château Pierry and its Vineyard Cellars The Clos St. Pierre Moussy and Vinay A Hermit's Cave and a Miraculous Fountain Ablois St. Martin The Côte d'Avize The Grand Premier Crû of Cramant Avize and its Wines The Vineyards of Oger and Le Mesnil The Old Town of Vertus and its Vine clad Slopes Their Red Wine formerly celebrated 20

III. THE VINEYARDS OF THE MOUNTAIN.