EXPOSITION 41 



must consequently be weak and of inferior flavour. It will 

 be necessary to weigh the probability of these effects which 

 appear to apply fully only to the more northern latitudes, or to 

 localities peculiarly unfavourable. This opinion, so often ad- 

 vanced by intelligent writers, as well as the general principles 

 which we have previously laid down in regard to the effect of 

 exposition, has to contend with many exceptions. The wines 

 of the Rhine, so much esteemed by many persons, are pro- 

 duced from vineyards having a northern exposition ; at least 

 in the valley of the Rhine as far as Bonn, and in that of the 

 Meuse as far as Liege, the famous vineyards of Epernay and 

 Versenay on the mountain of Rheims, are exposed directly to 

 the north, although in latitude 49 deg. 15 min. and in the dis- 

 trict which terminates the successful culture of the vine in that 

 direction. 



The vineyards of Nuits and of Beaune, as well as the best; 

 of Beaugenci and Blois, face the rising sun ; those of Loire- 

 et-Cher front the north and the meridian indiscriminately ; the 

 finest crus of the vineyards of Indre-et-Loire, and the best 

 hills of Saumur, face the north ; and among the finest wines 

 of Angers we find some made in every exposure. There are, 

 m fact, few wine districts in the east of France, where some 

 vineyards have not a north exposure, as is well known, and 

 frequently these are the vineyards whose produce is the most 

 esteemed as wines, as I will show hereafter. It may, there- 

 fore, with justice be argued, that advantages are to be derived 

 from a northern exposure which are of the greatest importance. 

 In a climate subject to late spring frosts, such a situation is 

 calculated to retard the expansion of the foliage, until the 

 period of danger shall be past or nearly so. Vines, there- 

 fore, which have a northern aspect, possess a great advantage 

 over others, because they are far less subject to the disastrous 

 effects of spring frosts, and in our country where the heat of the 

 summer sun is so powerful, and the atmosphere becomes dur- 

 ing that period so filled with caloric, I think the vines cannot 

 faiJ to receive a sufficiency of its influence to perfect the ma- 

 turity of the fruk, particularly in the middle and southern part? 



