THE BORDEAUX WINE DISTRICT. 113 



Sillery, Mailly, Londes, Chigny, and Rilly ; 2. The flat zone, with 

 St. Thierry, Marsilly, Ilermonville, and others. Besides these 

 there is a small intermediate traet between the plain and the 

 mountain, where the gentle declivities of Bouzy and of Ambon- 

 nay are to be found. 



Most of the noted vineyards of the Champagne are situated on 

 a formation of limestone and chalk, covered by a generally very 

 superficial structure of vegetable mould. The soil may be said 

 to contain fully four fifths of carbonate of lime, and only one fifth 

 of cla}^, silicious and other matter. Oxide of iron also enters into 

 its composition in several instances. 



The vines mostly cultivated belong to the family of the Pineau, 

 and generally bear dark grapes. They vary, however, to some 

 extent from the original Pineau (or Pinot) of the Burgundy dis- 

 trict, probably on account of the diversity of the soil in these wine- 

 districts. 



The cultivation of the vineyards is nearly uniform through all 

 the province, but it may be said that at Ay it has been brought 

 to its highest perfection. December is the best month for planta- 

 tion, although it may be continued even to the end of March. 

 The ground is always manured at the time of planting. The 

 young plant, generally a rooted vine two or three years old, is 

 dug round four times during the first year. In the second year 

 it is pruned down to one or two eyes, according to the vigor of 

 the plant, and the soil is worked up again four times in the course 

 of the year. In the third year a certain proportion of the most 

 vigorous plants are used. When in bearing order the vine is 

 generally kept low, and tied to a stick. 



The vines are in blossom about St. John's Day, and are carefully 

 freed from all new sprouts {gourmands) after this time. The 

 grapes arrive at their full rii^eness in September, and the vintage 

 begins, in favorable years, in the middle of this month ; in less fa- 

 vorable ones at the beginning of October ; and in bad years not 

 before the middle of the same month. Every body is at liberty 

 to gather his grapes when he pleases. The grapes are carefully 

 picked by women, and cleaned on the spot from all spoiled ber- 

 ries, leaves, etc. Then they are carefully selected according to 

 their ripeness and perfection, and sent to the press-house. 



The manufacture of wine has been raised to the projDortions of 

 a particular art or science in the Champagne district during the 

 last fifty years, and forms a special industry, frequently entirely 

 separated from the culture of the vine. Nearly all the wine pro- 

 duced in this district is made into sparkling wine ; and the former- 

 ly celebrated brands of dry Champagne wines — namely, the red 

 wines of Sillery, of Bouzy, Verzenay, and Mailly — scarcely exist 

 any more in commerce. The same black grape which was the 

 mother of these dark wines yields at present the juice for the pale 

 wine, which, in its sparkling state, ranks uppermost in the estima- 



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