A History of Champagne, with Notes on the Other Sparkling Wines of France

Transcriber's Note:
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This e-text is based on the 1882 edition. The original spelling, as
well as the use of punctuation and quotation marks, have been retained.

The following errors have been corrected:

    # p. xi: 'Sauturnes' --> 'Sauternes'
    # p. 52: 'which ne declares' --> 'which he declares'
    # p. 154: 'its owes' --> 'it owes'
    # p. 204: 'Bonaporte' --> 'Bonaparte'
    # p. 220: 'histriographer' --> 'historiographer'
    # p. 229: 'Reputatiou' --> 'Reputation'
    # p. 256: 'Saint-Poray' --> 'Saint-Péray'
    # Footnote 412: 'tho gas' --> 'the gas'

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the symbol for the oe-ligature. [asterism] depicts a corresponding
typographical symbol. The following text variations have been marked by
special characters:

    Italic:       underscores (_italic_)
    Bold:         equals signs (=bold=)
    Small caps:   forward slashes (/small caps/)
    Underlined:   tildes (~underlined~)




              [Illustration: A SUPPER UNDER THE REGENCY.]




                               A HISTORY

                                  OF

                               CHAMPAGNE

                             WITH NOTES ON

                 THE OTHER SPARKLING WINES OF FRANCE.

                          BY HENRY VIZETELLY,

  CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF FRANZ-JOSEF, AUTHOR OF 'THE WINES OF THE
   WORLD CHARACTERISED AND CLASSED,' 'FACTS ABOUT PORT AND MADEIRA,'
    'FACTS ABOUT CHAMPAGNE AND OTHER SPARKLING WINES,' 'FACTS ABOUT
                             SHERRY,' ETC.

                            [Illustration]

                   ILLUSTRATED WITH 350 ENGRAVINGS.

                                LONDON:

  _VIZETELLY & CO., 42 CATHERINE STREET, STRAND. SCRIBNER & WELFORD,
                           NEW YORK._ 1882.




                                LONDON:
             ROBSON AND SONS, PRINTERS, PANCRAS ROAD, N.W.




PREFACE.


The present is the first instance in which the history of any wine
has been traced with the same degree of minuteness as the history of
the still and sparkling wines of the Champagne has been traced in the
following pages. And not only have the author's investigations extended
over a very wide range, as will be seen by the references contained in
the footnotes to this volume, but during the past ten years he has paid
frequent visits to the Champagne--to its vineyards and vendangeoirs,
and to the establishments of the chief manufacturers of sparkling wine,
the preparation of which he has witnessed in all its phases. Visits
have, moreover, been made to various other localities where sparkling
wines are produced, and more or less interesting information gathered
regarding the latter. In the pursuit of his researches, the author's
position as wine juror at the Vienna and Paris Exhibitions opened up to
him many sources of information inaccessible to others less favourably
circumstanced, and these his general knowledge of wine, acquired during
many years' careful study, enabled him to turn to advantageous account.

The numerous illustrations scattered throughout the present volume
have been derived from every available source that suggested itself.
Ancient /MSS./, early-printed books, pictures and pieces of sculpture,
engravings and caricatures, all of greater or less rarity, have been
laid under contribution; and in addition, nearly two hundred original
sketches have been made under the author's immediate superintendence,
with the object of illustrating the principal localities and their more
picturesque features, and depicting all matters of interest connected
with the growth and manipulation of the various sparkling wines which
are here described.

In the preparation of this work, and more particularly the historical
portions of it, the author has been largely assisted by his nephew, Mr.
Montague Vizetelly, to whom he tenders his warmest acknowledgments for
the valuable services rendered by him.

It should be stated that portions of the volume, relating to the
vintaging and manufacture of sparkling wines generally, have been
previously published under the title of _Facts about Champagne and
other Sparkling Wines_, but they have been subjected to considerable
extension and revision before being permitted to reappear in their
present form.

    St. Leonards-on-Sea, February 1882.




CONTENTS.


    /Part I./


    I.

    /Early Renown of the Champagne Wines./

                                                                    PAGE

    The vine in Gaul--Domitian's edict to uproot it--Plantation of
    vineyards under Probus--Early vineyards of the Champagne--Ravages
    by the Northern tribes repulsed for a time by the Consul
    Jovinus--St. Remi and the baptism of Clovis--St. Remi's
    vineyards--Simultaneous progress of Christianity and th