THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 45 
remained its lord until 1815, when it fell in consequence of the 
Congress of Vienna, to the share of the Emperor of Austria, 
who in his turn gave it to its present holder, Prince Metternich, 
as Austrian and male-hereditary fief. 
‘‘His highness has spared no means or expense to obtain 
through his administration the utmost perfection in regard to 
the culture of the vine, and the treatment of the wines, so that 
the Johannesberg may be considered as a model school for 
both these main objects. The superficial content of the vine- 
yard is 66} morgen (acres), and from 1822 to 1846 had five 
good years—producing each year 10,560 to 16,000 gallons of 
fine quality, being 160 to 240 gallons per acre. The wines of 
the best vintages are sold in bottles only; the varieties are 
distinguished by different coloured seals. The first of these 
varieties has a blue seal, and is probably not only the finest of 
German wine, but the highest specimen of what the vine can 
produce. For this quality the grapes. are selected with 
scrupulous care, the best berries only being taken from the 
ripest bunches. It can only be made in the most favourable 
years, and the quantity never exceeds sixteen aums of 40 
gallons each. 
‘<The Steinberg is a domain belonging to the Duke of Nas- 
sau, and cultivated exclusively with Reissling; there is at 
present a great rivalry between the vineyards of Johannesberg 
and Steinberg. In good years it produces wines of the first 
rank, which have great merit with regard to their fragrant 
bouquet and vivid flavour; it has great strength, and yet is 
one of the most delicate aroma. The manipulation of the vine 
and the wine is analogous to that of Johannesberg ; that called 
‘Cabinet’ has brought in years of favourable vintage, 350 dol- 
lars the aume (about 40 gallons). The whole vineyard, about 
