51 / 96
After
"having
washed
our
lips
with
this
illustrious
wine,"
we
may
sample
Nebbiolo,
which
is
preferred
by
many
on
account
of
its
fruity
flavor
and
flower-like
boutiuet.
It
is
also
prepared
in
a
sparkling
condition,
and
a
very
pleasant
beverage
is
this
red
sparkling
wine,
especially
with
nuts.
Nebbiolo,
"which
from
the
wine
press
comes
sparkling
and
rushes
in
bottle
and
cellar
to
hide
its
young
blushes,"
cannot,
however, monopolize
entirely
our
attention,
for
other
In'ands
are
claiming
their
share
of
it,
such
as:
Barbaresco,
which
is
a
red wine,
round
and
soft,
resembling
Burgundy;
the
popular
Barbera,
much
liked
for
its
deei),
ruby
color,
and
its
vigorous,
strengthening
qualities;
and
the
aristocratic
strawberry-colored
(irignolino,
an
idea!
table
wine,
the
latter
the
favorite
of
the
late
Archbishop
F^'ranzoni
of
Turin.
Sparkling
Moscato
of
Asti or
C'anelli,
produced
in
what
is
probalily
the
best-known
viticultural
district
of
I'iedmont,
is
considered
one
of
the
best
and
most
typical
of
Italian
sparkling
wines.
It
has
been
called
"a
lad\'s
wine"
because
"it
is
sweet."
Remarkable
for
its
bouiiuet,
which
stands
somewhat
between
that
of
the
musk
and
the
scent
of
the
rose,
it
has
a
slight
alcoholic
strength,
so
that
it
can
be
used
safel\'
even
by
the
gentle
sex,
and
is
an
exhilarating
beverage.
Lombardy
produces
less
wine
than
Piedmont,
the
culture
of
the
grape
being
confined
mainly
to
the
sub-Alpine
or
Alpine
district,
while
the plains
are
chiefly
devoted
to
the
dairy
and
silk
industries.
What
little
wine
is
grown
in
Lombardy
is,
how-
ever,
of
good
(luality;
the
l)est
being
the
wmes
of
Valtellina,
the
Rhaetia
of
the
Latins, a
province
as
celebrated
to-day
for
its
vintages
as
it
was
in
ancient
times.
They
are
characterized
by
a
beautiful
strawberrv'
color,
lightness,
delicacy
of
bouquet,
clean-
liness,
and
nuttiness
of
flaxor,
being
am(jng
Italian
wines
those
which
approach
the
most,
the
grand
vintage
of
the
Medoc.
On
the
western
border
of
the
Venetian
province,
not
far
from
that
romantic
city
of
Verona,
is
grown
another
of
the
best
wines
of
Italy,
viz.
:
The
Valpolicella,
a
table
wine,
ruby
in
color,
of
moderate
strength,
clean
and
palatable,
developing
with
age
a
delicate,
violet-like
bouiiuet.
Somewhat
resembling
Bur-
gundy,
it
has,
however,
a
certain
tendency
to
sparkle,
a quality
this,
that
has been
lately
utilized
in
prejjaring
of
this
tyi)e
a
sparkling
variety,
which
finds
considerable
favor
among
con-
sumers
in
this
country.
The
allurements
of
Stecchetti's
poetry
are
not
necessary
to
initiate
the
traveller
into
the
delightful
"soles
of
Venice
and
wine
of
Conegliano,"
another
of
the
celebrated
Venetian
vintages,
and
probably,
the
most
popular
sparkling
wine
of
Italy,
for the
latter
speaks
for
itself,
once
you
have
gotten
well
acciuainted
with
it.