1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

In the Fort Wine Country.

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what are called vintage years these grapes are gathered and pressed by themselves,the mosto being drawn off into separate tonels. Early in the year the wine is racted and sent down the Douro,and on its arrival at the lodgesof Villa Novathe produce -of the various quintas is blended together, excepting in rare instances, when the wine of some quinta of renown is kept intact. Now-a-days the largest shippers blend their vinta^ wines,as a rule,in capacious vats; although some few among them,and aU ofthe smaller shippers, cling to the old-fashioned method of blending the wine in pipes, retaining their faith in

the beneficial influence of the air upon it while it is being trans ferred by means of the cane90 from one set of pipes to another. There is a saying in allusion to the practice of the men passing