1879 Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines

THE VINEYARDS OF

II.-THE VINTAGE IN THE CHAMPAGNE.

THE RivER.

Ay, the Vineyard of Golden Plants-Summoning the Vintagers by Beat of Drum-Excitement in the Surrounding Villages-The Pickers at \Vork– 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 Ma.reuil-Bringiug in the Grapes on Mules and Donkeys-The Vineyards of Avenay, Mutigny, and Cumieres-Damery and Adrienne Lecouvreur, Marechal de Saxe, Jlnd the obese Anna Iwanowna-The Vineyards of the Cote d'Epernay-'.Boursault and its Chateau-Pierry and its Vineyard Cellars-The Clos St. Pierre-Moussy and Vinay-A. Hermit's Cave and a Miraculous Fountain-A.blois St. Martin-The Cote d'A.''ize-The Grand Premier Cru of Cramant-Avize and its Wines-'l'he Vineyards of Oger and Le Mesuil-The Old Town of Vertus and its Vine-clad Slopes-Theix Red Wine formerly celebrated. WITH the exception of certain famous vineyards of the Rhone, the vinelands of the Champagne may, perhaps, be classed among the most picturesque of the more notable vine districts of France. Bet"·een Paris and Epernay even, the banks of the Marne pre-