The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-06
SWIMMING IN BUR0UNDY.
[From Flags's European Vineyards. ).

GFrom Flsgs's European Vineyards
The sight near at hand of a "stern
round tower of other days" admonished
n,e | Was entering tile domain at chateau
la Tour, one of the three reigning houses
Of IIaut Medoc, by decree Of the Bordeaux
Chamber OF Commerce and the suleragesof
princely drinkers, the world overranking
no Que in classification OF u select sixty,
chosen from among the many thousand
vignobles of district where all is choice
and fine. Surrounded by field of little
low vines, as insignificant to look at as
any Of the others, stood handsome, new
chateau, with press house, store houses,
stables, etc., close by. while apart from
all, and rising from among hop.'o-my.
thnmb trillis, was stately antique tower,
giving dignity, character interest and
name to the place. A gentleman Of dis
tinguished look, with two ladies', was
walking toward the house as l ldrewnear.
I saluted him and asked permission to
walk about the property. "If Monster
will be good enough to wait moment
the regisseur will be here and conduct
him." The regisseur Or conductor com.
ing up, was presented and turned over
to him, He showed me the press.house.
A pile Of grapes already stemmed was
heaped in conical form on the pressoir,
and five or six men with trousers rolled
above the knees were trotting about in q
circle, trampiug the pile under foot.
beginning at the other circumference and
gradually contracting their circle until
they meet in the middle and on the top
Of the cone. This they call ''fouler a
pied" crushing with feet.) There might
be a cleaner way Of doing the thing; I
don't think there could be fouler. The
regisseur made no apology for the sight,
nor did the trotters seem in the least
ashamed. Wherever / went that day,
except at the Averous farm and the
Chateau. LATTE, this mode Of crushing
was in practice. 1t is said no other SO
effectually crushes the pulp without
breaking the seed. In fact, that it is
important for the quality Of the wine that
it be trodden out with naked feet. It is
also said, and very truly, that soap and
water will cleanse the feet as well as the
hands. At one place I visited inquired
of the workmen if they washed their feet
before tramping on the grapes, and was
told they did not. Ono Of them en-
lightened my ignorance by explaining
that wine had the power to fling off al
impurities, so that it was of no conse
quence how free they made with it. M
doubt there is good deal to be said OF
the other side Of this question of dirt.
confess that what I heard and saw dis
turbsd my old notion--at ell events, tn
Modoc vintagers acted as if quite sure o
their chemical deductions, and woult
walk with bare feet slap-dash througl
puddle and mud, and mount the juic.
heap with the assured tread Of men tirnl
grounded in their principles.
At the "Hospice," at Blingy, in tn
Province of Burgundy, the property
the endowed hospital in Beaune, foun
the arrangements excellent. The vat'
which are constructed like those Of Nj
doc, only lower and wider in proportio
to their height, hold about a thousan
gallons each. Often it is necessary to r
sort to artificial heat in aid Of the fe
mentation, but so long as things wol
well in the vats nothing Of the kind
needed. But there is another mode
rousing up the alackening process and
the same time bringing the sinks al
seeds which have settled to the botto
into contact with the ncw.made alcoh,
SO that the latter may combine well wi
the coloring matter they may contain.
That consists in stirring up the wht
mass from bottom to top. 1t is do
twice during the process of fermentatio
1t takes four men to do it well. Max
as Adam when he was good, and til
they go in--into the wine vat--chin de
they go in, and there. with feet a
hands, fingers and toes, turn over, $
about, and mix the liquid that is getti
clear with the pomace that was depos
ing itself, and ~