1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

The Reticrn Journey—Regoa—Baixo Cargo.

103

-were of inferior quality. Time,however, has accomplished one of its customary revolutions, and to-day a precisely contrary •opinion of their merits prevails. It is just about a couple of centuries ago when the Alto Domo wines were first regularly imported to England,conse quent, it is said, upon a falling off in the Florence vintages. During the year 1678 the entire shipments from Oporto to all

CONELUEKCE OF THE EIO CORGO AfID THE DOrEO.

parts of the world amounted to little more than408 pipes. Port wine is erroneously supposed to have come into general con sumption in England consequent upon the Methuen Treaty, signed in 1702,and which secured fi'ee admission for our woollen goods into Portugal in return for the reduction of the duties on Portuguese wines to two-thirds of the duties levied on the wines •of Prance. No considerable increase in the import of Douro