1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

95

Skiraz, so Redl's Bacco in Toscana should be con- sulted for the wines of Italy. Monte Pulciano vs, of a purple hue, sweet and slightly astringent. It is to this wine that Redi gives the palm, calling it la manna di Monte Pulciano. The wine of Chianti, near Sienna, Artiminio, Poncino, Antella, and Carmignano, though of less reputation, are not greatly is well known.

The best Verdea ^

comes from Arcetri near

inferior.

Florence. T^^edlnanOy a gold- coloured syrup, is pro- duced, according to Drs. Thudichum and Dupre, from grapes, " passulated on the vine by torsion of the

MontelcinOy Rimaneze, and Santo Stefano are

stalk."

Of Sardinia the chief wines are the

Siennese wines.

A leatico, Vike ihQ Tinto of

so-called Malvasias^ Gz7^o,

Of Pied-

Alicante, and Bosa, Ogliastra, and Sassari.

mont

wines

Barbara,

Barolo,

are

the

principal

Nebbiolo, Braccheto. and Montferrat have had reputation thrust upon them. Grignolinos are made from a vine closely related to the Kadarka of Hungary, and the Carmenet of the Gironde. The wines of Genoa are of small repute. Central Italy furnishes Montefiascone^ with a delicious It is held now in slighter esteem. 2 Called Est Est from the writing under the bust of the valet of the bibulous German bishop Defoucris, who drank himself to death, upon which his valet composed his epitaph. Dominus metis mortuus est. Reverence for antiquity is our sole excuse for there production of these wretched lines. Monte Pulciano has also the credit of having killed a Churchman. Other wines doubtless have had the same honour. Asti, Chaumont, Alba, * So called from its green colour. It is said to have been a favour- ite wine of Frederick the Great. ' Est est ' propter mi?imm * est,^