Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-12
From the Baltimore American.


Wine Culture of the west.
IF the recent interchange of courtesies between
the citizens of the East and West, in the OPENING
OF the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, and the sub
sequeDt visit of Western gentlemen to this city
was productive OF 10 other good result, it scom-
phshed an important purpose in directiODg the at
tenton OF the country to the wine culture of Ohio
and Missouri. Never have we seen a new idea
more favoraby received than the generous Juice of
the American vintage, nor was ever Bacchic move
ment, since the days of Aradne, performed at
once with more Astounding mirth and more perfect
decorum than by the delighted visitors who, in the
early part OF June, perVaded the Burnet House
ana the Planters Hotel in the respective seats Of
the Western wine trade. The moment they
reached the banks of La Belle ReUiere the pres
ence OF new element of civilization made
known to them in the connection OF CatqWba cob
blers, and they were half won over to the cause of
the grape, but the liquid amber which shed so rich
glow over the .perfumed periods of the dinner
table eloquence Cincinnati entirely charmed them
by its witchery and when the genius of hospitality
crowned with vine leaves, welcomed them to ST.
Louis, amid the popping of corks and the sparkle
OF glasses, the conquest was complete Every ora
tor rose with 'EUoe BaccLeI' on bis lips, Catawba
felt and acknowed to be as much an institution
in the West as the high-pressure steamboat the
Falls OF ST. Anthony, or Senator Douglas.
Whoever has reflected upon the sad prevalence
OF drunkenness in the United Stated; with an ear
nest and dspassionate desire to ameorate the coz
dition OF his fellow countrymen 10 that respect
must have arrived at the conclusion that the only
practicable method of abating the gigantic evil,
must be by the substitution of lighter and more in
nocent beverages for the accused fiery drench
which annually brutazes and kills so large per.
centage Of the population. Adam Smith in his
ealth OF Nations" has remarked upon the stri-
king fact that the people of all wine growing coun-
tries are singulary free from inebriety and there
can be little doubt that had the cheap wines of
central Europe been easily prOcuFahle here from
Eu1f ffigv. aF1Hl 4 81,
have been presented so deporable a spectacle in
this otherwise happy republic as now saddens the
heart of every philanthropst. Do all that we can
to persuade me3 to drink nothing but water thew
VIII demand more generous tipple, and in the a6-
sence oil harmless liquors they naturally resort IN
the produce OF the still as it courses IN a tbopsand
burning streams Of poison from the numberIess
manufactures of whiskeythatare scattered thropgb
out the Union. The Ohio and Missouri wines fur
nish the proper succedaneum for the drink sun
piled by the dstilleries, and though the Qualities
chiefly produced sold at prices which are
above the pecuniary ability of the great mass of
our people, cheaper sorts be made and would
certainly follow upon the demand for them. The
experiment has been tried, with comparatively
favorable result, OF substituting lager beer for the
potent and deadly drinks of the bar-rooms in our
larger cities, but this liquor is not without an in
toxcatiug effect as Doestcks has humorousy tes-
tilted, and the use of it will probably decline as
mere fashion that has had its day, except among
associations.
The success of the western wine raisers is great
y to be desired for another reason that it will lead
90 the manufacture of on American brandy upon
which we can rely for purity. Brandy consumers
have lately been filled with alarm at hearing from
Europe that henceiorward they may expect to get
none of this liquor tOlerBbly pure and it can
not be questioned that the adutecatons of import
ed brandy exceedingly gross. If we could con-
troll the making of it by combining its production to
our own country might have some little hope
that 1t would be served to US in genuine form, and
the advantages of such thing are too self-apparent
to be pointed out.
Nor should the economical considerations be left
out of view in regarding the Importance of the
Western cultivation Of the vine. We need not for
tfy our assertion by array of statistics, for
ry will admit that large yearly sent out
of the United States in payment for the wines and
brandies imported from Europe. 1t is perhaps not
extravagant to declare that if the money thus
drained from us could be kept at home the balance
of trade would be in our favor, instead of our get
ting deeper in debt to foreign nations. In this as
pect OF the case, we cannot but regard the efforts
of the West at growing the grape with lively in
terest and when consider all the bearings of the
question once, the probable favorable influence
of domestic beverages on the cause of temperance,
the chances of procuring unadulterated article
and the ndispuable saving of money, the vintagers
OF Ohio and Mississippi should have the best wishes
Of the whole community.
IL mas Deeh salu, we KNOW, that Iuese eHOrtS must
alter all prove iailuTe-thati in the Atlantic States
at least climatic will forever render the pro.
duction of good wine impossible, and that to Cali
fornia alone must we look for an American vintage
equal to the Burgundian and Rhenish vintages. To
this only reply, in the homey language of
old English proverb, that the proof of the pud-
ding is IN the eating and the test Of hook and
champagne is in tie drinking We have tried both
the Cincinnati and the St. Louis varieties OF these
vines, and hope to try them again, and are per-
fecty satisfied that they pure, good and innoc-
uous.