The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-05-18
American Wine.

AS an evidence of the possibility of max
ing wine in countries previously believed
to be unsuitable to the culture of the vine,
we may instance the case of the United
States, where considerable progress is be-
ing made over a large extent of territory,
and in widely dissimiar climates. Mr..
Erski9s. our Secretary of Legation at
Washington, in report recently submit-
ted 10 the Foreign Office, furnishes some
interesting details. 1t is a generally ,e-
ceived opinion that in Europe good wine
cannot be produced in regions where the
mean temperature of the year does not ex
ceec 500 of Farenheit, and it is deemed es-
sential that the summer heat should be
of some duration, with mean tempers.
ture of not more than 70 TO II degrees
that the atmosphere should generally be
clear and dry, the cold in winter not ex-
cessive, and the soil dry. Along the sea-
board of the United States, most of the
supposed requisites are wanting; and so
far back as the year 1917. Humboldt pre-
dicted that the vine could not be culiva.
ted north of the 4.h degree of north lati-
tude, the climate of which it was assumed,
would bear close resemblance to that OF
The 50th parallel of Europe. But on the
settlement of the regions lying to the west
of the Alleghsney nountains it was found
that the vine might be grown with great
prospect Of success, in consequence of the
climate being less moist than the coast !;
and accordingly palatable red wine was
made from the native grapes in IHdiana
aud Missouri, toward the end of the last
century. About the year 1926, the Ca.
tawba, a native American grape, was first
brought into notice, having been found
growing in Georgetown, near Washing
ton. This vine, which is derived from the
wild fox grape has gradually supplanted
all others, and IS now adopted almost uni
versalIy throughout the United States for
making wine. 1t imparts very peculiar
nusky flavor to the wine, displeaing,
when tits first tasted, TO many palates;
but this dislike is easily removed by hab-
it, and the wine is much relisled in Ohio
and Missouri, where it sells readily at pri-
ces which would be deemed exorbitant in
the wine countries of Europe.
The Catawba is st present almost the
only grape cultivated on large scale III
North America for wine. In time, how
ever, other varieties will doubtless be dis
covered, better adapted to the widely diff
fering soils and climates Of the northern
and southern States. In southern Missou-
ri alone, 100000 acres might be select
ed, admirably calculated for vineyards,
| without encrosching upon better lands
adapted to other crops. This single State
has an area available for vine culture more
than equaIling that of all Europe. In the
Carolinss and Georgia also, there are said
to be hundreds Of thousands of acres of
poor and partially exhausted hiII-sides,
which are unfit for he growth Of either
cotton or maze, which might easily and
cheaply be converted into vineyards.
Even in California, the vine grows in J
great perfection, yielding an abundance oI
good wine. The bank. of the Ohio ara
now studded with vineyards, between l.
500 and 1900 acres being planted in The
immediate vicinity of Cincinnati, with ev
cry prospect of vast increase. In IT
least twenty-five ont of thirty-two States
vineyards, of more or less promise and eX.
tent, have been planted.
The extent of vineyards is thus return
ed at the present time: In Ohio, 5000;
In Indiana, 900; In Missouri and Hi
nois, 500 each !; Georgia, 100; Norlh Car
olina 800; and South Carolina, 200. 1t
is calculated that at least 1000, 900 GAL
Ions of wine are now raised in the United ,
States the average value of which NAV
be taken at 6s. per gallon.
Large quantities of sparkling wine are
made both at Cincinnati and ST. Louis, in
imitation Of champagne, and fetch, under
the name of Sparkling Catawba,' about
81 bottle 1t is made by exactly the
same complicated process and with as
much care as in France, which will ac %
count for the high price. At no distant
period, wine will be produced as cheapIy
and abundanuy in the United States as in
Europe, although not equal to the best
quality of European wines. Whether
American wines will ever become an i'm
portant article of expor., must depend
upon the price at which they can be pro
duced bu, the home market is already so
extensive that many years must, at all
events, clapse before wine can be raised
in sufficient quantities to turn the current
Of trade and convert the United States iu--
to the exporters of an article which has
hitherto been chiefly derived from abroad
London Mark Lane Ergrcey