1914 Beverages de luxe

vintaj^es of the Duchy of Ilronte, supplied lo the English court, in the generous vintages of the Aetna, and last, but not least, in the well-known Mai'sala wine. Of all Italian wines, Marsala is, perhaps, the best known among the English-speaking race. It is, undoubtedly, the best of the many dessert wines for which Italy enjoys a world-wide reputation. Marsala is a wine that resembles Sheriy. hut, as a rule, richer in body, as in its |)n|)aiati()ii a certain amount of must from red grapes is used. It has a iiighly develoi)ed bou(iuet, and is entirely free of acidity to the taste, which is mellow and oily. Like Sherry and Port, Marsala is a fortified wine, although there are some ciualitie.s. such as the Virgin, which do not re- ceive any addition of brandy at all. Malm.sey, or Malvasia, is a white, .sweet, dessert wine, rather alcoholic, with lu.scious flavor, resembling Madeira. Of the Syracusan Muscat, as well as of that of Segesta, we may say with ('ari)ene that "it has a brilliant golden color, a most gracious and not excessi\e fragrance, an e.xiiuisite, honey- like flavor, that tills the mouth with a harmonious ensemble of delicious sensations, which the palate can jjerceive, but no pen adequately de.scribe." Our re\iew of Sicili;in wines wouhl not be complete without nn'ntioning two or thi\'e otlii'r well-known brands, viz: Coi'vo, a white t;ible wine, resembling Sauterne. and possessing a beau- tiful amber color, boutpiet and aroma t\pically Southern, a clean, generous, silky taste, warming to the system. Generous in flavor, without being heady, it combines body with finesse, (jual- ity with reasonable ]irice. Castel Calatubbo, from the vineyards of Prince Pape di \'aldina, is also a wine of the Sauterne type, although somewhat dryer and a trifle more generf)us. "Vin de Zucco," grown at N'illa Crazia. a property of the Orleans family, in the province of Palermo, is another famous Sicilian growth. This wine, obtained with the greatest care, stands between a Sauterne and a Sherry wine, and is ideal either as a dessert or as a "\'in de lu.xe."