MALAGA. 



51 



planted, and were considered of very little value. The 

 price was 5,000 dollars, about 1,050/., nearly 121. an acre 

 for the vines, counting the remainder as nothing. The 

 produce was very little the first four years : last year 600 

 arrobas, this year 1 ,000, and if the next season is favour- 

 able, it will produce 1,500 arrobas. The new wine, as 

 soon as the fermentation is over, is worth from nine to 

 ten rials an arroba; 1,500 arrobas are equal to about 

 4,500 gallons, which is only 50 gallons an acre, and at 

 the highest price only eight dollars and one third per acre. 

 This is so poor a return, both in quantity and value, that 

 it is probable the vineyard is still far from having been 

 brought into full bearing, and that the 150 acres must 

 have been considered worth a considerable part of the 

 price, notwithstanding its depreciation. 



The produce of the vineyards round Malaga, which is 

 not converted into raisins, is now chiefly a dry wine. It 

 is similar to Sherr}^, but very inferior in flavour, and is 

 chiefly taken off" by the Americans. The demand from 

 America has greatly increased since the general establish- 

 ment of temperance societies in that country. This wine 

 retains a sweet taste till it is two years old. The Old 

 Mountain, or Malaga sweet wine, which was formerly 

 so much in demand, is now almost out of fashion 

 throughout the world, and is very little made. It was 

 formerly the chief export from Malaga. 



Friday, 28th October. — Having been introduced to 

 Mr. Bryan, a gentlemen of Irish extraction, and brother- 

 in-law to Mr. Heredia, one of the principal merchants in 

 Malaga, I w^ent with him to visit the cellars of the latter. 

 There is no such wine as Malvasia, which is said, in the 

 Topographie des Vignobles, to be produced at Malaga. 

 The Muscat wine is very scarce, the raisins being so 



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