1879 Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines

AND

OTHER SPARKLING WINES.

I.-THE ORIGIN OF CHAMPAGNE.

The ERrly Yineyards of the Clmmp11gne-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 Pntrons under Louis Quntorze and the Regency-The Ancient Church and Abbey of Hautvillers-F11rre and Co.'s Champagne Cellars-The Aobey 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 P erignon-The Legend of the Ho y Dove-Good Champagne the Result of Labour, Skill, Minute Precaution, and C:ireful Observation. . STRONG men, we know, lived before Agamemnon; and strong wine was made in the fair province of Champa.gne long before the days of the sagacious Dom Perignon, to whom we are indebted for the sparkling vintage known under the now familiar name. The chalky slopes that border the Marne were early recognised as offering special advantages for the culture of the vine. The priests and monks, whose vows of sobriety certainly did not lessen their appreciation of the good things of this life, B

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