Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  195 / 308 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 195 / 308 Next Page
Page Background

XII.

WINES

WINE

is

the

fermented

juice

of

the

grape.

The

juice

of

sweet

grapes

consists

of

a

considerable

quantity

of

grape

sugar,

a

peculiar

matter

of

the

nature

of

ferment

or

yeast,

and

a small

portion

of

extractive

tannic

acid,

bitartrate

of

potassa,

tartrate

of

lime,

common

salt,

and

sulphate

of

potassa,

the

whole

dissolved

or

suspended

in

a

large

quantity

of

water.

This

grape

juice

contains

all

the

essentials

to

the

production

of

vinous

fermentation,

and

re-

quires

only

the

influence

of

the

atmosphere

and

a

proper

temperature

to

convert

it

into

wine.

Preparation

of

Wine.

When

the

grapes

are

'ripe

they

are

gathered

and

trodden

under

foot,

in

wooden

vessels

with

perforated

bottoms,

through

which

the

juice,

called

the

must,

runs

into

a

vat

placed

beneath.

The

temperature

of

the

air

being

about

60,

the

fer-

mentation

gradually

takes

place

in

the

must,

and