1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

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THE QEINTA DOS AEEEGADAS.

11. Buying New Wine, A Toub of Inspection.

We Beeross the Douro—A Ride in the Dark to the Quiata dos Arregadas—A Morning Levee of Neighbonring Farmers—Testing their Samples of Wine —Generally impoverished condition of the Alto Douro Wine-Growers— Terms upon which the Wine is purchased—Start on an Excursion up the Douro—The Eoads mere Bridie-Paths and Bullock-Tracks—Visita Quinta in the famous Boriz District—Mode of taking a Sample of the Mew Wine —Vintage Quarters ofa well-to-do Douro Farmer—Bide on to the Quinta ' doCaedo—Its owner an ancient adherentof Queen Dona Maria Treading the Grapes to a tinkling Guitar—An Alto Douro Luncheon Some of the luxuries composing it. After a day or two's sojourn at tlie Quinta da Boa Vista I remoTod to the Quinta dos Arregadas, on the opposite bank of the Douro,and the head-quarters duringthe vintage ofthe notable firm of Messrs. G.G.Sandeman and Sons. Asvery few shippers