III. Aromatic Wines

Aromatic Wines have a peculiarly choice bouquet, and contain abundance of essential oils with considerable alcohol. They are best when drunk in their native countries - in Spain, France, Italy, etc. - for they bear transportation poorly unless re-enforced by additional alcohol, which detracts from their delicacy of flavour and aroma. Examples are the choicer Rhine wines, Moselle, Capri, Chateau-Yquem, and Orvieto. Some wines of this class are "more noted for their acid than aroma" (Chambers). Such are white Burgundy (Chablis) and white Bordeaux (Sauterne), which are often drunk with salads and rich foods. The Moselle and Rhine districts produce acid grapes with abundant aroma, and the wines which bear these names are many of them almost free from sugar.

IV. Acid Wines

Acid Wines owe their distinguishing property to tartaric acid chiefly, but wines which have turned sour on keeping or by exposure to the air contain acetic acid and resemble vinegar.

V. Sparkling Wines

Sparkling Wines are those in which carbon-dioxide gas, formed by fermentation after the wine is bottled, is set free upon uncorking, and continues to be liberated for some time thereafter.

The gas gives additional flavour to the wine and increases its exhilarating effect. Such wines are champagnes, sparkling Moselle, and vino d'Asti. The better the wine, the longer it continues to give off gas and aroma after uncorking. Good champagne is bottled under a pressure of about five atmospheres.

These wines, especially good champagne, are very serviceable for invalids, and some persons with delicate stomachs can digest no other form of alcohol; but poor champagne causes gastric derangement sooner than any other wine.

When nausea and vomiting exist they have special power for allaying the gastric irritation. They are absorbed with great rapidity, and act promptly by invigorating the nervous system and circulation. They may sometimes be substituted for spirits in fevers when there is need of alcoholic stimulation. Their cost, unfortunately, places them out of the reach of many, and it also affords much temptation for adulteration.