1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

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In the Port Wine Country.

umbrageous garden-court, bounded on two sides by tbe count ing-bouse of tbe firm and tbe residence of one of tbe i^art- ners, we descend a flight of steps and pass tbrougb tbe sample and tasting rooms into tbe lodges. Eacb of tbese is divided into two aisles by stone arcbes,and tbe only variation from tbe serried files of ancient-looking casks, ranged in unbroken rows and several tiers down tbe lengtby galleries, are some buge gaily- painted blending-vats, wbicb bere and tbere rise out of tbeir midst. We branch off to tbe extensive coojperage, detached in a measure from tbe stores themselves and divided into three sec tions,in one of wbicb staves are being prepared of tbe requisite length and thickness, in another shipping pipes are in course of construction, while tbe gauging,steaming,and branding of tbe finished pipes are going on in tbe third. Retracing our steps, we continue our tour tbrougb tbe lodges until near tbe central one, when tbe ground descends, and we notice balf-a-dozen large vats in wbicb new wines are effectually blended by tbe aid of screw-fans worked by men stationed above. Adjoining are tbe tonels in wbicb alltbe brandyiskepttogether,isolated as far as practicable from tbe rest of tbe stock. At tbe time of our visit wines of tbe present vintage were being received in tbe lodge, and samples of them were shown to us,together -with several remarkably fine vintage wines of 1872-73, and '75, and certain rare tawny Ports of choice flavour wbicb dated back for nearly two-thirds of a century. Beyond tbe lodges is a narrow terrace where shipping casks were being painted tbe orthodox slate colour, and bullock-carts were being laden with pipes of wine intended for shipment. 'Their drivers, stalwart, bare-legged, bejewelled Minbo peasant- women,pricked tbe animals'flanks with tbeir goads,encouraged them with tbeir shouts, or tugged away at tbeir quaintly-caiwed yokes,yet with all this tbe stolid beasts moved leisurely forward at tbeir own pace over tbe ill-paved winding road wbicb leads down to tbe swift-flowing river. Of tbe existing Oporto bouses boasting a connection of more than a century with Port wine, Offley, Pornester, and Co. rank