New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-01
California Wines.

America is TO DO q wlne-produclng country Ine
culture Of the grape is already extensive, and the
wine processes are well understood and successful
Nicholas Lopgworth has made the Catawba a fam-
liar, and to some extent famous wine, add the
Western vineyards rapidly increasing as they are in
number aud prodnctiveness and in the character OF
their wines, win do much TO supplant the European
wines, which they mos, nearly Initiate Not less i'm
por.an and promising are the vineyards Of Califor-
ma whose soil and climate orc still better adapted TO
the culture OF richer and moro delicate grapes than
the Cataw ba or other vines Of the Western States
produce.
In 1853 the crop Of grapes in California was est.
mated at 81 600 tups, from which were made 30oooO
eaons Of wine and q considerable amount Of brandy.
The largest vineyards are in Los Angeles County,
about 300 miles south Of San Francisco, and in that
year they contained $50 goo vince, which produced
about $4,000 gallons of wine. Ia 1859, the product
for the whole State had increased to 33 600 gallons
In 1860. in Sonoma alone, more than i 600 acres
were planted with vines. The Commissioner for
California estimates that in that year there were
5000 900 vines in that State, and that of these nearly
one third were in Los Angeles County, and be reck
ons the product of those vines in 1865 at 100000
gallons of wine. In no other part Of the United
States has the grape culture advanced SO rapidly
California has special advantages for her vineyards
in that they are exempt from the diseases which
have saectad vines in the more Eastern States and
in Europe aud in the almost total cessation Of rain
during tue growing season. The period Of ripeniug
is from Sept Is TO Dec. 10, aud the grapes are con-
sidered mature when the pulp becomes Of nearly the
same hue az the skin.
What are known in the markets s California wines
are the pure juices Of the grapes, and their excel
lence is beginning TO attract the attention Of wine
drinkers and connoisseprs this side of the CONT
nent. Their culture and Improvement in California,
and their reputation here due principally to the
unremjt,ng exertione and skill Of tue house Of koh
Ter e. Trolling the Longworths OF California. THIS
house began business in 1851, in very moderate
way, and have gradually enlarged their Vineyards
aud extended their sales unit! they now produce a
very large proportion Of the best wines of tie State
and have created and supply market for 1t IN var-
Gus parts OF the world. IN 1860, house was estab.
sLed for the sale of their wines by Messrs. Perkins,
Stern & Co. in New-York; and, beside many other
agencies in the United States, they represented
in China in the East Indies, and III South America.
lLeir hooks arc vi liuo vuaHtli "ShN"sS ""u "'N
flavor differing o. course, according to Their ages,
but already pronounced by those VINO are familiar
with them US destined to take the place in popular
estimation OF the Rhine wines. The sweet wines,
especially tie "Angelica," made from grapes with
out any addition Of sugar, have rich and delicious
flavor, unsurpassed by any imported wines from Eu-
rope. So great il the demand for these and the other
wines of this house that the difficulty ID 70 supply
them as fas, ~ they are wanted.
The wines which reach New.York by way Of
Cape Horn are considered to improve materially by
the sea voyage in richness, flavor, and strength,
while the advance in price il extremely moderate.
II is not to lie expected that the famous wines of
Europe will be reproduced in America identical in
flavor and quality. Soils and climates and circnm-
stances vary, aud the recruiting wines will OF conte
be dilierent-California Lot producing the precise
wines OF France any more than Portugal does those
OF the Rhine, but each nevertheless has its peculiar
excellence. European wines will continue 10 be im'
ported till the advance in price and the increase of
adalteration drives them wholly from our market-a
distant DAY no doubt. Blu, il we cannot get genu-
inc Chsmberin, a Chateau LATTE, or Amomillado
from the famous vineyards OF the Old World. the
viues which ripen on the Pacific shore may send MS
wines as delicate and rich aud pure as those whose
place they must eventually supply.