Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-12
WHERE THE JoHANNEsBERGER CONES
FROM

The house and estate Of Johannerberg is one Of
the most conspicuous objects in the whole Rhine
gtu. Il occupies quite an eminence, some distance
from the Rhine, and the whole mansion. standing in
the midst of vineyards is for some distance up
the river. The house was built in l7i6, and is more
remarkable for the fine view obtained from the bal
cony and than either for its size adOrn-
ments 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 it away for
him to Marshal Rrman, without even condescend-
ing to consult b 81 b ask his consent.
At the close The war it changed hands once
more, and in 1916 was presented by the Emperor of
Austria to his favOrte Prime Minister, Prince Met
ternich. The cellars very extensive, but it is
difficult to obtain admttance TO them-perhaps there
are mysteries there which they think ought not to
he disclosed. l. is more certain that all is not
gold that gtters than it is that every beverage ast
ing and looking like wine is not wine really-the
pure juice of the grape The ground around the
chateau is too precious vineyard to be laid out
in gardens, hence there is no attempt at adornment
No trees are allowed to grow, on account of shad-
ing vines, except the north side, where grapes
are attempted to be raised The best grapes grow
close under the walls of the house, and indeed, part
y the cellars. The peculiar species most priz
ed and cultivated sthe Riesng. The management
of it at all requires the most careful atten
ton. The grapes are left until they thoroughly
ripe-in fact as long they will hang on the vine
which renders the vintage at johannesburg usual
y fortnightlater than any other place in the Rhine
gau.
The vinedresser is not satisfied with ripeness; he
waits until rottenness has almost ensued and what
ever 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 contriyed especially for the purpose
One of the facts in regard to this celebrated estate
which will most surprise the reader is its small
tent. 1t embraces only about seventy acres. All
the wine, of this small space, is not equal 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
casks. Its produce amounts, in good seasons, to
about forty butts valued at 80 600 forms, equal to
1852 A cask containing $50 bottles has been
valued his high as . 200 forms. The highest price
ever paid was Is 900 forms per cask of 1850 bot
ties which is a little more than $3.50 of our cur
rency per bottle.
The purchasers were George ~, and the King of
Prussia, each moiety. In bad years the juice of
the grapes is never put in cellars, but sold at
for what it will bring in the market; but the good
wine is slowed away in casks until 1t 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 question whether
this country Christian IRtettigencer.