THE CHAMPAGNE VINTAGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 15

THE CHAMPAGNE VINTAGE

ONE-THIRD ABOVE THE NORMAL THIS YEAR. The vintage in the Champagne country. where the vines are being tended within range of the German guns, is expected to be one-third above the Jiormal this year. Tho lack of labour has been repaired by the employment of women and children, working under the supervision of old vineyard employees whose age keeps them'out of the Army. Two things are lacking in tie cliampagno industry. Thero is' a great shortage of bottles, which were chiefly manufactured in the north of France, the district now in German occupation, and there is also a need' for casks. The suggestion is made that tho winegrowers of other parts of France should 'provide casks, for the use of tlie cliampagno industry, but unless such; claret and Burgundy casks were thoroughly treated-to extract t-he colouring matter which has soaked into the wood tliey might give tho champagne a pink colour, whicli would spoil its appearance. Chemical treatment of the casks, on tlie other "hand, might deteriorate the taste of tho champagne. Tho vineyards are still being tended almost up to the line of the French trendies, and tho military authorities exercise a close control over workmen imported from other parts of Fraaico to liclp, lest there should be Gorman agents among them.—"Daily Mail."