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DRINKS.
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hrmco
of
Modena
;
the
Chianti
of
Tuscan
—
a
wine
grown
on
the
estate
of
Baron
Ricasoli,
not
thought
so
much
of
in
Italy
as
in
England
;
and
the
Lacryma
Christi
of
Naples.
Most
Italian
wines
are
bottled
in
flasks, in
the
old
Roman
style,
with
oil
^
on
the
top,
and
wool
over
the
oil.
Madeira.
Wine
is
first
mentioned
as
a
product
of
Funchal,
the
capital
of
Madeira,
in
the
fifteenth
century.
In
1662,
when
Charles
II.
married
the Infanta
Catherine
of
Braganca,
English
merchants
began
to
settle
in
Madeira.
The
principal
varieties
of
Madeira
are
Malvasia,
Bual,
Sercial,
Tint
a,
and
Verdelho
(the
Verdea
of
Tuscany).
In
England,
Madeira
is
now
within
the
reach
of
all.
At
the
beginning
of
this
century,
it
was
known
only
to
connoisseurs.
The
*'fine
rich
old
Boar'
is
fairly
familar,
and
if
we
may
trust
the
wine
merchants,
the
'*
Very
Superior
Old,"
variously
described
as
full,
soft,
golden,
delicate,
and
mellow%
is
gradually
winning
its
way
into
public
favour,
since
that
same
''soft
fulness,"
added
to
a
delicious
and
yet
pungent
flavour,
produces
a
drink
''
altogether
superior
"
to
the
best
Sherry.
Persia.
The
ancient,
most
famous
wines
of
this
country
were
those
of
Chorassan,
Turan,
and
Mazanderan.
These
1
"
Let
no
man,"
says
the
Talmud,
"
send
his
neighbour
wine
with
oil
upon
its
surface."
Chulifi,
fol.
94,
col.
i.