115 



nai air. When it has done running, the cask is raised by levers, and 

 care must be taken to be sure that the raising lias not made the wine 

 turbid f if it is troubled it must not be mixed with the clear wine. This 

 is the most general way of racking, and the most expeditious. But 

 it is not a good method for wines that have a delicate bouquet, be- 

 cause they are so much exposed to the air when running hom the 

 tap, and when pouring into the funnel. 



At Beaune (Cote-d'Or) the wines of which have the reputation of 

 being the most relishing of all the wines of old Burgundy, they rack 

 with copper taps, to which a leathern pipe is attached terminated by 

 a wooden tube, that is slightly conical. The cask to be filled is laid 

 on the side, and pierced on the topmost part with some small gim- 

 blet-holes ; when it is filled, the holes are stepped and it is rolled over 

 on the bung. 



At Condrieu (Rhone) they rack the wine the week afler it is made, 

 and before the end of the month, they fine it, to divest it of clammi- 

 ness ; every fortnight or twenty days they rack it over for the space 

 of a month or two ; by this means they give it that perfectly limpid 

 clearness for which it is so remarkable. Each time it is thus racked, 

 the cask is sulphured strongly, even more than for red wines ; this 

 increases the body of the wine. This white wine lasts from fifteen 

 to twenty years ; as it grows old it acquires the colour and taste of 

 Malaga; its repute has been at its present height for several centu- 

 ries. It is thought that the species of the grape was brought from 

 Palmatia ; it is known by the name of vionnier. Tlie Hermitage 

 wine owes its origin to the vineyards of Condrieu. 



If the casks have to be moved three or four months after racking, 

 it is advisable to rack them anew first, lest the deposit they have 

 made should rise and cloud the wine, and change the taste. 



* It is related that an inhabitant of Condrieu having turned hermit, he built hiroseli" 

 a cell on an uncultivated sterile mountain, in the neighbourhood of Tain, and employed 

 his leisure hours in breaking to pieces the recks around his dwelling-, Having pUnled 

 slips from Condrieu they succeeded perfectly. His example excited emulation, and 

 valuable vineyards soon covered the stony sides of the mounlain. from which the Her- 

 jailage wines are stiU raised. 



