Publisher's Synopsis
From the PREFACE.
IN presenting this treatise to the public, the Authors have hardly any statement to make which is not contained or implied in the work itself. Nevertheless, as the title may fail in conveying fully the scope and intensity of their labours, they beg leave to supplement it by a short preliminary statement of the principles by which they have been guided. In _the first place, the Authors determined to produce a strictly scientific work, based as far as possible upwn their personal observations. Such have therefore been made in the vineyards, cellars, and repositories of many countries, in the respective chemical laboratories of the Authors, in public and private gardens, in open nature, and in mines underground. Wherever possible, they availed themselves of the writings of previous authors for the purpose of guiding or supplementing their observations, and with that object they have consulted and used nearly two hundred out of the six hundred works which compose the world's oenological literature.
The Authors next endeavoured to give due proportions to each of the elements of their treatise, so as to make it useful to the greatest possible number of readers. The planters of Australia or America will therefore find in it a concise exposition of the principles of viticulture and vinification, by the aid of which they may attain the best products of which their climate may admit; but they will also have before them faithful pictures of the viticulture of the principal wine districts of the world, which they may use as patterns for imitation, if disinclined to rely upon general principles. The wine merchants of Great Britain and of America will find accurate descriptions of the objects of their trade, together with such topographical and statistical information as may aid them materially in enlarging the field, or the certainty, or the profits of their operations; and rendering still more important services to the public for which they have hitherto provided, or hope in future to provide. All persons who are fond of wine as an article of diet and a means of enjoyment, will be able to find in this treatise information about the origin and varieties of wine, which will enable them to regulate their wants with due reference to their liking and their means. They will find that the Authors have had amongst their aims the accomplishment of one of the most benevolent intentions of the Legislature; namely, to make accessible to the people at large, the wines of all countries which can be used as beverages, and which by the voice of science and the practice of entire nations are declared preferable by far to distilled spirit or to wines fortified by such. While thus assuming a distinct position with regard to a well-understood social question, the Authors have abstained from a zealous exaggeration, and have, on the contrary, endeavoured to preserve that judicial calmness which distinguishes the natural historian. The same moderation they have applied to practices such as the plastering of must and wine, for which, after the most searching investigation, they have been unable to find any logical grounds; nay, for which those who are most' addicted to them cannot adduce a single reason or pretext. An improved vinification by the guidance of science will of itself cause such practices to fall into desuetude, even if their results were not prejudicial to the quality of the products or the health of the consumers.
The Authors have endeavoured to impress strongly upon the minds of their readers that there is an indissoluble connection between the grape and the wine which it yields. The genius of wine is in the grape; every kind of vine gives a distinct character to its product. For this reason the most renowned wines are all made from distinct varieties of grapes, which are never mixed with indifferent or heterogeneous varieties.....
