354; MANAGEMENT OF VINES AND WINES IN CHAMPAGNE- 



and Mailly, arc most esteemed : the rest, though good, are 

 not equal in quality. The vineyard of Bouzy, which ter- 

 minates the chain, and the horizon between the south and 

 east, so that it belongs to both divisions, must not be omit- 

 ted. It produces excellent red wines, participating, from 

 its situation, in the good qualities of those of Verzenay, 

 and the good red wines of the Marne. 



The lower mountain comprises a great number of vine- 

 yards, among which are distinguished those of Chamery, 

 Eceuil, and Villedemange. The latter in particular pro- 

 duces wine in a favourable season, that will keep ten or 

 twelve years. This division extends to the banks of the 

 Aisne, but it produces only common wines. 



The wines of St. Thierry are very pleasant, of a light 

 colour, and much sought after in commerce. But the clos 

 St. Thierry, from the archbishopric of Rheims, is the only 

 one that unites the colour and flavour of burgundy with the 

 lightness and briskness of champagne. It is to the cham- 

 pagne wines what the Clos- Vougeot is to burgundy. 

 What is the The best aspect for vineyards is unquestionably the east 



best aspect for an( j sou th. Of situations the midway of a hill is preferred, 

 vineyards? , , , , . 



as the heat there is more concentrated, while it js exempt 



from the variations of the air on the summit, and the damp 



vapours of the foot. A western aspect is unfavourable to 



vegetation, which it burns and dries up : so that a vineyard 



with an eastern aspect is more valuable by one third. 



What is the Next to aspect in importance, if not before it, is thena- 



best soU ? t ure of the soil. This should be light, sandy, and granitic ; 



neither compact, close, nor clayey. In general the vine, 



yards of Champagne have a substratum of chalk: a kind of 



soil on which the vine grows slowly, but when it is once 



thoroughly rooted on it, it thrives well. 



When and how The vines are planted in November or December, when 



arc the vines f] ie weather permits. An oblong hole or trench is made a 



foot and half deep, and two or three feet long. Into this 



the plant is introduced, and covered with earth, inclining 



it so, that only two or three inches of the extremity rises 



above the surface ; and this extremity is refreskedby cutting 



it lightly in a horizontal direction. These trenches are 



made in rows, a foot and half from each other in strong 



grounds^ 



