1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

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 " Moet and Chandon," is said to be five miles in extent, all cut out of the calcareous 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 Mare* 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 t]ie 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