1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

The Port Wine Capital—Villa Nova Wine Lodges. 123

road that leads to the river,and all wine arriving from the Upper Donro is brought into the lodge by the same difficult route. Every Villa Nova wine-store possesses a considerable stock of brandy, not produced from either roots or grain,but a fine and fragrant spirit distilled from white wine vintaged mostly in the Upper Uouro. G-reat precautions are taken against this spirit getting accidentallj'- ignited; and Martinez, Gassiot, and Co. keep the bulk of theirs stored in pipes in an isolated comer ofthe lodge, where under no circumstances are lights permitted, and whence it is transferred as required into vats holding theii- thousand gallons each.