1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

16 Wines. Of the growths of the district of the Eheingau, which is 10 miles long by about 14 broad, the choicest is Schloss (or castle of) Johannisberg. This is 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 creme de la creme of Johannisberg 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. Rudesheim is also a choice wine, and the vineyard producing it is said to have been planted by Charlemagne ; Geisenheim, Marko- brunn, 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 wine is grown at Asmannshausen, a village about