34 



duction. It is between these two points that are to be found 

 the most renowned vineyards, and the countries most cele- 

 brated for their wines, 'such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, 

 Austria, Hungary, Transylvania, and a part of Greece. But 

 of all these countries, France presents by far the greatest 

 extent of vineyards, and no one of the others possesses as 

 great a variety of temperature, or such a diversity of soil 

 and exposition. From the shore of the Rhine to the foot of 

 the Pyrenees, the vine is almost every where cultivated, and 

 we find in this extensive vine region jhe different species of 

 wines most esteemed for their delicacy of flavour, as well as 

 those most prized for their spirit. In that country they are 

 also produced in such abundance, as not only to suffice for 

 their own immense consumption, but to furnish the nation 

 with infinite resources derived from this species of culture, 

 which form an object of export to numerous nations in the 

 character of wines, and in that of the choicest brandies obtain- 

 ed by distillation. The very great variety of wines which 

 France produces, causes also within her own limits an active 

 trade between the different departments ; but although climate 

 gives to its productions a general and indelible character, 

 there are circumstances that modify and restrain its effects; 

 and it is only by turning to advantage its principal operations, 

 by a skilful attention to their application, that we can succeed 

 in deriving from them the best results of which the climate is 

 susceptible. It is from inattention to this particular, that we 

 see produced in the same climate, wines of various qualities, 

 because the soil, exposure, and culture, often modify and pre- 

 vent the immediate effect of this great agent. 



In respect to another point of view, the most intelligent 

 writers affirm, that there are some kinds of vines which will 

 not allow of being cultivated indiscriminately in this or that 

 locality. The soil, climate, exposition, and culture, must all 

 be peculiarly appropriate to their inflexible character, and the 

 least variation causes an essential change in the produce. 

 These writers attribute it to this cause, that the vines of Greece, 

 when transported to Italy, no longer yielded the same wine ; 



