The Placer herald., 1859-05-14
The Wines and Liquors of California.

Inc CultlVatlOn OF tne grape III OalilOrnla
bids fair, in the short space of twenty years,
to transcend in importance the working of
our gold mines. This statement will excite
surprise with thousands, and will probably
be dscredited by many; but it is easily sus-
ceptible of proof The State Register, for
1859, most valuable work, and one which
should be in the possession of every Califor-
nian, as well as widely disseminated through
out the Eastern States, informs us that the
increase of our vines from 1856 to 1857,
was fifty per cent, and seventy -four per cent.
from 1857 to 1858, and about fifty per cent.
since then on the whole stock, being greater
increase than compound interest would yield.
1t is estimated that the present stock Of
vines, when matured, exclusive Of the pro-
ceeds derived from the sale of the grape and
the manufacture of brandy, will reach ten
millions Of dollars. In twenty years, at
the rate of progress above indicated, the
wine product Of California will be worth
fifty million Of dollars.
With such enormous resources of our own,
the importation of French wines and liquors
will not only cease, but California will be-
come the greatest exporter and will occupy
much of the wine market now monopolized
by France. But it is not only in the article
of wine that the United States is becoming
Independent of foreign countries for their
liquors. Mr.. Longworth has produced an
article of champagne wine which commands
a high price, and is much sought after; and
Mr.. Pike has succeeded in manufacturing a
most superior article Of brandy from the
Catawba grape. This liquor is pure, and, in
my opinion, much superior to the best French
brandies Of the same age. But the most
important article of American liquors is
whiskey. The fame of several choice brands
has become worldwide. "Old Bourbon
and "Old Rye" are peculiarly American in
stitutions. Mr.. j. III. Cutter, of Louisville,
Kentucky, has obtained a degree of excel
lence in the manufacture of "Bourbon'
which has, more than anything else, taken
the place of French and Spanish brandes
English gin, and other foreign liquors, of
good and bad qualities. 1t is also chasing
wretched, poisonous compounds out Of the
ma, ket, and several hundreds Of thousands
of dollars yearly to the country by keeping
them at home. Whiskev is as much the
national liquor of the United States as it is
IN Ireland or SCOlianu, although OF ulUeTeUL
character and flavor, and great pains are
taken by eminent manufacturers to distil it
as pure and as excellent as possible. In no
part of the United States will the traveller
find better or purer wines and liquors. in re
spectacle pubic bar rooms, than in Califor-
MIA; because we pay more for them than any
body else, and they are improved by the sea
voyage and the time occupied on the pas
sage. AS matter of national import, this
subject is of great consequence, and we
doubt not careful investigation into the
statistics will show that millions of dollars
have been retained in our country during the
past ten years, which would have gone to
enrich foreign manufacturers, were it not for
the home enterprise that has been exhibited
in the articles above mentioned. The wine
culture is, however, yet in its infancy, but it
is the infancy of Hercules, with California
for its cradle 1t is impossible to set any
bounds to the future greatness and power Of
this State; but faint idea of it can be
gathered from the promise held forth in its
grape culture alone. S. 4. Herald.