1876 Facts About Sherry by Henry Vizetelly

Other Jerez Vineyards.

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and witli scores oflook-out perckes of esparto; for far and near around Jerez -watcli has to be kept over tbe grapes from tbe moment they begin to ripen untU tbe vintage is concluded. To tbe left, in tbe mid-distance, we could discern tbe cbmcb-towers and bodegas of Jerez,flanked by a long sweep of purple bills fading away in tbe bazy sunsbine, wbile on tbe far-off horizon a glimpse was obtained of tbe Bay of Cadiz and of tbe masts of tbe shipping there riding at anchor. At tbe moment of our arrival gangs of men from different parts oftbe vineyard kept coming to tbe almijar,or large walled court in front oftbe casa,with richly-bronzed grapes piled up in their bttle square wooden tinetas,tapering towards their base, and provided with flexible bandies of esparto. As vino dulce was being made,tbe grapes, which were at once spread out,bad to remain exposedto tbe sun for severaldays. Someneighbouring groups were engaged in detaching those grapes already suffi ciently dned from tbe larger stalks preparatory to their being trodden and pressed in tbe numerous lagares, where pisadores and tiradores were actively at work. Tbe casa de la vina of tbe Cerro de Obregon is a good type of tbe kind of building commonly found throughout tbe Jerez vineyards. It consists of merely a single story, and its walls, pierced with only a few small windows,are of dazzling whiteness. Tbe central portion of its front is occupied by tbe customary shady arcade, with bright flowering plants trained up its sobd square pillars, tbe rooms of tbe capataz aud bis family being situated on tbe right; wbile tbe stabling and tbe quaint-looking kitchen, with its collection of huge copper caldrons belonging to tbe casa de la gente, where tbe men employed in tbe vineyard are accommodated,occupy tbe wing on tbe left. In tbe rear is tbe casa de la gente itself, and in a bne with it and running behind tbe apartments of tbe capataz is a capacious bodega for storing tbe mosto until it is conveyed on mule or bullock carts to Jerez. At tbe back oftbe building is a long press-bouse con taining as many as nine lagares, besides tbe usual hydraulic press,where tbe several processes of treadingtbe grapes,building