The wine of Sillery--Origin of its renown--The Maréchale d'Estrées a successful Marchande de Vin--The Marquis de Sillery the greatest wine-farmer in the Champagne--Cossack appreciation of the Sillery produce--The route from Reims to Sillery--Henri Quatre and the Taissy wines--Failure of the Jacquesson system of vine cultivation--Château of Sillery--Wine-making at M. Fortel's--Sillery sec--The vintage at Verzenay and the vendangeoirs--Renown of the Verzenay wine--The Verzy vineyards--Edward III. at the Abbey of St. Basle--Excursion from Reims to Bouzy--The herring procession at St. Remi--Rilly, Chigny, and Ludes--The Knights Templars' 'pot' of wine--Mailly and the view over the Champagne plains--Wine-making at Mailly--The village in the wood--Château and park of Louvois, Louis le Grand's War Minister--The vineyards of Bouzy--Its church-steeple, and the lottery of the great gold ingot--Pressing grapes at the Werlé vendangeoir--Still red Bouzy--Ambonnay--A pattern peasant vine-proprietor--The Ambonnay vintage--The vineyards of Ville-Dommange and Sacy, Hermonville and St. Thierry--The still red wine of the latter. [Illustration: TOWER AND GATEWAY OF THE CHÂTEAU DE SILLERY.] The vineyards of the Mountain of Reims may be divided into two zones, one of which, known as the Basse Montagne, is situate north-west of Reims, and comprises the vineyards of St. Thierry, Marsilly, Hermonville, and others; whilst the more important zone lies to the south of the old cathedral city, and includes the better-known crus of Sillery, Verzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Ludes, Chigny, and Rilly. The vinelands of Bouzy and Ambonnay are also reckoned within it, though situate somewhat apart on a southern slope of the Mountain some few miles from the Marne.