1895 Mixed Drinks by Herbert W Green

MIXED DRINKS.

89

<'tent" {Unto) used for sacramental purposes. The other Spanish red wines are Paxarete, Val de Peuas, Beuicarlo, etc. Considering the wine-producing countries in their normal productive capacities, the acreage actually planted and regularly yielding the salable vinous pro duct, Italy ranks ahead of Prance, and all others for that matter; hut.in qualities,excepting a few kinds,she is far behind. The area devoteii to wine growing is much larger than that of France, and the arable value of the land much greater, for crops of olive, corn, etc., are grown simultaneously with the grape, all mingling and interlacing in a general vegetation while the Italian peasant takes his ease and nonchalantly awaits the never-failing results and abundance of nature. The treatment of the grape while gathering and after is just as reckless as before. Whether green, ripe or rot ten they are carelessly torn from the vines and thrown into vats in a filthy condition, and little attention is paid to the processes of fermentation. In fact the whole system, or lack of system, is very crude and aboriginal; but some improvement has taken place the past few years, and when Italy, like America,awakens to realize her great natural advantages we shall hear more of her better-quality wines and see an important