Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-13
GAZETTE.
From the albany Daily Advertiser.
MADEIRA WINES.

MADEIRA WINES.
The Island Of Madeira is indebted for its grapes
to classic lands. 1t is said to have been stocked
with plants brought directly from Gambia, BY or.
der Of Prince Henry, under whose auspices the
first colony Of the Portuguese was established
! there in 1881. The miIdness Of the climate, and
the volcanic soils with which the island abounds.
| were so favorable to their growth, that in i455,
n, manufacture Of wine was already commenced
from grapes whose beauty and size commanded
the adj ,t,on Of the traveller.
Sse be.t vineyards are found on the south side,
"n,ch is Of course the least exposed to cold winds
and foss from the sea. The soil Is generally
composed Of pumice stone mixed with portion
Of clay, sand and MARYLAND as in Germany, il 10
often necessary to form terraces 10 order to pre.
| vent the soil from being washed away from the
activities.
The grapes are propagated by quicksets or cut.
tings, aud planted 10 rows, the ground being oil.
wavs trenehed sufficiently deep to allow the roots
to penetrate into the substratum OF volcanic ash.
es. Some are left without support, and kept low
BY frequent pruning: Others are trained on square
frames from twenty to thirty inches high, while
others again are disposed on slopng lattice
work, formed OF canes and supported by poles.
the talest OF which rise about seven feet from the
ground.
In the month Of January or February the vines
are pruned, & the first dressing is given: in April
or May, they are 10 flower, and BY the first week
in September, the fruit is generally ripe. 1t is
very carefully picked-all unrpe and damaged
clusters being set apart for the manufacture Of
an inferior ,0ine The grapes are tread in
trough. aud the juice thus obtained 10 called vin-
no da flor. The bruised grapes are again taken
and subjected to the action of press, which
gives the second quality Of must. On account
Of the mountainous nature Of the country, the
grapes are sometimes pressed in one place and
fermented in another. to which they are conveyed
%ss 1sks su either q ssssSa k ~ IL sJ
vsmber, the wine is expected to be clear.
The celebrated Malusey wine is also grown
oil certain rocky grounds, lin this island exposed
to the full influence Of the suns rays. As the
grapes from which It is procured require to be
over-rpe, or partially shrivelled, they are allowed
| 10 hang about month later than those used IN
the manufacture Of dry wines.
The grapes most preferred in the Island, are
the Meluazia aud the Serciaf. They will on.
ly succeed in particular spots. The Sercial IS
very dry and austere, when new, but becomes
thoroughly mellowed BY age. 1t then has rich
aromatic flavor quite peculiar to itself, and com.
bines all the requisites Of a perfect wine. The
quantity Of Sercial produced does not exceed
forty or fifty pipes in the year.
Most Of the red grapes are consumed Ia the
manufacture Of white wines. but portion Of
! them are converted into iintd or red wine.
The wines receive an addition Of brandy pre-.
yious to expectation. The effect Of this is iDju.
rous to the favour Of the better kinds, but it 10
supposed necessary to enable them to bear much
better the high temperature to which they are Of
ten exposed. The demand for Madeira in Amer
ica and to which it at first alone exported,
led to knowledge Of the benefit derived BY re.
moval to warm climate. II does not however
follow, because Madeira wine has been on q vOy.
age to the East or W est Indies, that, therefore,
it is better. Many Of the cargoes sent to the
East Indies, are purchased on speculation aud on
long credit, or in barter for goods Hence the
best growths are not always furnished, and the
vine in question 10 sometimes contemporary dis.
tineuished in the London market, BY the name oil
truck or barter Madeira.
1t is very probable that exposure to heat in
regulated rooms, or under the roofs Of house in
summer, answers most Of the advantages obtained
from a voyage.
When kept eight or ten years in wood, and A.
! forwards allowed to mellow nearly twice tina.
time in the bottle, Madeira wines acquire "tha,
agreeable puugency, that bitter. sweetness, which
was so highly priced in the choicest wines OF an
tquity. uniting great strength and richness oil ia.
vour, Nth an exceedingly fragrant and ditfaslbe
aroma The nuttv taste, which is often very mark
ed, is not communicated, as some have Imagined,
BY means Of bitter almonds, but Is inherent IN the
wins."