Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-16
where the Johannesberger comes From.

! Where the JOhannesDerger comes rIoms
The house and estate of Johannesberger is ore
of the most conspicuous objects OF the whole
| Rainegau. It occupies quite an ennence, some
distance from the Rhine, and the Whole man.
sion, standing in the midst of vineyards, Is seen
| for some distance upon the river. The house
was built in 17l6, and is more remarkable Tor
the fine view obtained from the balcony and ter
race than for either its size or adornments The
Prince, in fact, seldom occupies it. Its history
is quite interesting. 1t belonged at first to the
monks, being attached to the Abbey and Con-
vent of st. Johns, and many fine stoup OF wine
did they secure from it. In the beginning OF
the present century the ownership was vested in
the Prince of Orange, but Napoleon gave IL a.
way for him to Marshal Kellermann, without
even condescending to consult him or ask his
consent
At the close of the war it changed hands once
more, and in 1916 was presented by the En-
peror OF Austria to his favorite Prime Minister,
Prince Metternich. The cellars are very exten-
sive, but it is difficult to obtain admittance to
them-perhaps there are mysteries there which
they think ought not to be disclosed. 1t is no
more certain that all is not gold that gtters
than it is that every beverage tasting and look
ing like wine is not wine really-the pure juice
of the grape. The ground around the chateau
is too precious as vineyard to be laid out in
gardens; hence there is no attempt at adorn-
ment. No trees are allowed to grow, on account
of shading the vines, except on the north side,
where no grapes are attempted to be raised
The best grapes grow close under the walls of
the house, and indeed partly over the cellars.
The peculiar species most priced and cultivated
is the Riesling. The management of it at all
seasons requires the most careful attention. The
grape. are left until they are thoroughly ripe
in fact, as long as they will hang on the vine
which renders the vintage of johannesburg u
sually a fortnight later than any other place in
the Rhinegau.
The vine-dresser is not satisfied with ripeness;
he waits until rottenness has almost ensued;
and whatever is lost in quantity, by this delay,
is considered to be more than regained in the
strength and body of the wine. So careful is
the gathering that those which fall to the ground
are picked up by peculiar instrument contriy-
ed especially for that purpose One OF the facts
in regard to this celebrated estate which will
most surprise the reader is its small extent. 1t
embraces only about seventeen acres. All the
wine, even OF this small space, is not eqnal, but
that of each of the small compartments into
which it is divided is kept separate, and even in
the best years there is considerable difference in
the value of the different casks. Its produce o.
mounts, in good seasons to about forty butts,
valued at $4,000 forms, equal to $96,270. A
cask containing 1850 bottles, has been valued
as high as $4,000 forms. The highest price ever
paid was $4,000 forins per cask of 1850 bottles,
which is q little more than $3.50 of our curren-
cy, per bottle The purchasers were George W.,
and the King of Prussia, each moiety. In bad
years the juice of the grapes is never put in the
cellars, but sold at once for what it will bring in
the market but the good wine is slowed away
in casks until it is ripe, and then bottled and
stamped with the princes signet and sold in the
different cities of Europe, OF course, principally
to the mobiles. 1t is a question whether single
bottle of real johannesburg has ever reached this
country.