Daily camera., 1898-07-26
DANCE IN A WINE VAT
Californians Participate in Novel
Entertainment.
One Hundred Couples Trip Around II
. Cask WhhAsA Few Days Be-
fore WasA Filled with
SPARKLING Wine.

A hundred couples danced in wine
vat at Asti one day lately. Where hut a
few days ago 100000 gallons of Cali
fornia chianti bubbled 2OOmerrymakers
whirled in the mazes of a Strauss waltz.
There was no great crowding. An ex
eellent orchestra in the center Of the
novel ballroom made music for the
dancers, while onlookers stood about
the sides of the tank and enjoyed the
fun. Few, however, lost the opportu-
nifty, that might never again occur
during lifetime, to participate in
terpsichorean pleasures on floor which
had known the weight of enough wine
to fill 100000 bottles, and whose walls
were stained a more lurid color by
the juice of hundreds of millions of
grapes. The dancers were of many de-
grees and ages. Supreme court judges
elbowed San Francisco supervisors and
foreign consuls reversed their steps to
avoid collisions with millionaires. There
were others, too. Men and women who
had first tasted chianti in the vineyards
of Italy or Switzerland touched the
heels of native sons and native daugh-
ters in the grand march. Never, per-
haps, was more cosmopolitan and
representative gathering in any place.
1t was the fete day of the Italian
Swiss colony at Asti, and the officers of
the association outdid the most atten-
tive and generous of hosts in their care
for the comfort and delight of 200
guests from San Francisco and other
cities. Invitations had been extended
to many prominent people, and ma
jority of the fortunate recipients re-
sponded. A special train left San Fran
cisco for Asti at 1880 o'clock in the
morning, and upon arrival here car
riages conveyed the visitors over the
extensive lands of the colony, which en-
braced over 1000 acres under cultiva-
ton in vines. The immense buildings
were visited, from the fermenting room,
over 200 feet square, where so huge
tanks hold the juice which has flowed
into them to undergo its first fermenta-
ton, to the cellars. where is stored
the aged product of the best years
growth. The many processes were eN-
planned by President Rossi and Secre-
tary Sbarboro, and practical lesson in
winemaking was given, The greatest
attraction was reserved till the last,
when, after leaving the brandy dis
tillery, the way was led to the giant
reservoir.
The imaginations of the guests were
prepared for the marvellous sight about
to greet them by their hosts, who told
of its planning and building. The out
side appearance of the mighty recep-
tacle is much like one Of the pyramids
of Egypt with the top sliced off. The
ascent to the top is by concrete steps
on four sides. Its foot is a charming
ly plotted garden, with pyramids of
flowers and gravel walk. In the cen
ter is a stone fountain of interesting
design, which arches the entrance. The
opening is three feet In diameter, and
when the interior is filled this is her
metically sealed, To-day a winding
staircase made descent of "a feet to the
bottom easy. Two arches partly d.
vide the reservoir, making three com
partments, 30 feet square. The floor,
walls and ceiling are all cement Fifty
men were employed night and day for
As days, and 1000 barrels of the best
Portland cement and 5000 barrels of
gravel and fine sand from the nearby
Russian river bed were used in its con-
struction. The walls are two feet
thick, and glazed to the imperviousness
of glass bottle. 1t was first filled on
October Is, 1897, two steam pumps be-
ing busted for over week in the task.
1t was emptied on March 10, 1898, and
the wine removed to 30,000-g gallon watts
in the cellar proper
Being about to take into its capa-
cibus stomach another 100000 gallons
of wine, the Italian-Swiss colonists
thought it fitting that the great event
should be celebrated. A wonderful echo
was discovered by the viewers of this
eighth wonder of the world. "Hello!"
said President Hugo Craig, of the cham
ber of commerce, and "Hello!' con-
tinued around the walls for what
seemed full minute. Standing at one
end, whispers were interpreted at the
other. so feet away. A city of 100000
inhabitants, with the present average
consumption, might draw its supply of
wine from the great reservoir for over
year.-Chicago Tribune.
"A moment of Distress.