Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-24
THE WINE VAULTS OF CINCINNATI.
Correspondence OF the Newark Advertiser

Among the chief objects of interest to the
stranger are the Wine Vaults, where the wine
made from the native Catawba grape is pre-
pared Mr.. n. Longworth. one of the carly
settlers, and originally from Newark, is entitled
TO the credit of introducing this branch of bus
lness, and now large number of establishments
are following his example with profit. Mr.. L.
Is especially fond of Jerseymen and treats those
who call upon him with especial attention
freely showing them his grounds and vaults, and
amusing them with anecdotes and incidents of
his early experience hero. After pleasant call
at his hospitable mansion, (Which is graced by a
genuine lady of the old school and her accom-
plished daughters,) he sent guide to pilot us
to the Wine Vaults. or, as he seems more pleased
to call them, THE Internal Regions If, how
ever, they do anything toward replacing the
poisoned and drugged liquors now imported from
abroad, at prices beyond ordinary purses these
cellars will be more of blessing than a curse
Arrived at the vaults. our guide introduced
us to rather portly Frenchman, who ushered
us into vaulted apartment where we were fur
nished with torches, (sticks with candles on the
ends,) and commended us to the guidance of n
younger person, evidently from the same nation
Passing through the dark labyrinth of the sub
terranean cayerns which compose this mammoth
cave of Bacchus, We found the sides walled up
with batteries of bottles aimed at us in a man.
ner that would have made deadly work in case
Va an CA piOsioH We undlly Tedc0eu the DOttllnQ
room, where some half dozen men were busily
at work One was engaged drawing the wine
from huge cask-the liquor having been pre-
vlOusiy sweetened. The bottles were then
handed to another Mt the left who with ma
chine forced in the corks. which were previously
sOftencd with warm water.
These two filled and corkcd with the regular
ity of machinery, and rapidly enough to employ
tour or five Others IN tying or wiring down the
cork ., - After thi. L.
ties "ic stored a"Iy for several months-two
years, II ! romemue c"rrectly-when they arc
placed on racks, bC I"'p upwards and then
shaken every day for few weeks by this
means thr sediment j. collected in the neck
and IL finally thrown Of hy a dextcrous manner
of uncOrkiny the BOTTLES. The deficiency Of
liquor caused by this process is supplied by ad-
ditional syrup, the bottles recorked, labelled
and packed ready for sale
The atmosphere about Cincinnati is said to
be peculiarly adapted to the growth of the
grape, and tho vineyards cover the hill in the
vicinity, giving them very much the appear
ance OF the vine-growing districts of France and
Southern Europe. Mr.. Longworth expert
mented with q great variety of grapes and
finally settled down upon the native Catawba
as the best adapted to the business in this coun-
try, and his decision appears to be justified by
the enormous and increasing demand for it
which is beyond his ability to supply 1t is
also converted into brandy of a fine quality
though that's brought into market so soon after
1t IS made, that there is rather rank and fiery
flavor which requires age to modify; there is
nevertheless an aroma after the effect of the
first taste which is very pleasant
The wine Is now produced mostly by Ger
mans, who raise the grapes, express the Juice
and then sell it to Mr.. Longworth and the other
dealers. who merely prepare it for market in
the cellars. This is done by storing it in enor-
nous casks, containing from two to three thou
sand gallons each; after a certain period, this
is drawn off into bottles, and is naturally a
still, acid wine, like Sauterne. To make the
sparkling wine, resembling champagne, it is
sweetened with sugar, which also gives it the
effervescent property. l noticed that the bot
ties used are imported, for the alleged reason
that those made in this country are not strong
enough 1t is certainly reproach to our glass
makers that those of US who are rivalling for
eign people, foreign lands, and foreign chimes
in the complicated matter of wine making
should be obliged to import the bottles to put
in