The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-30
The California Wine Crop OF 1864.
From the Alta California,

From the Alta California.
Although this is year of unexampled
drouth in California-that is at least with
out parallel during the last twenty wears
although the wheat crop has failed COM
p!etely in three-fourths of the State; and
although the cattle have died by the tens
OF thousands; with all this, the wine crop
IS not only as good as the average, but
promises to be considerably better. From
all the grape-growing counties favorable
accounts are received.
The vineyards are less dependent mon
the rain than the wheat-felds. Most of
our vines are six or eight years old. and
their roots 60 down three or four feet-far
enough to find a considerable stock of
moisture. At Los Angeles and Anabeim
there are large bitches which bring water
from the Los Angeles and Santo Ana Riv-
ers; in Santa Clara county the artesian
wells furnish supply; and in Sonoma the
ram has been sufficient for the grapes. In
other counties the vineyards are not 80 nm
merous, and most of them are within
reach OF irrigation. If there is moisture
enough during wet year to enable vines
to flourish during the first and second
years, they will be pretty sure to live after
wards through the dryest seasons
While the vineyards promise the largest
crop ever yet gathered in the State--that
is, the largest absolutely, as well az yerv
large comparatively--the prospect for the
wine-grower on the score of prices is also
very encouraging. The new tariff IMPOSES
the following duties;
gallon. *~'' Po'
On wines of all kinds. valued at not over 10
cents per gallon, 20 cents per gallon. rs ner
centum ad valorum; and valued at ever 20
GEMS ana not over 81 per gallon, SO cents Der
at 81 per gallon, 81 per gallon provided. Tina,
no champagne or sparkling wines, in bottles
shall pay less rate of duty that rs no,
dozen bottles, each bottle containing NOT more
than one quart, or IS per two dozen bottles
each bottle containing not more than one
pint. WV
These duties are TO be paid in gold, and they
are so high that we will be able to contend nv
even terms with French wines in the New
YORK market, and to that place we must look
1or our Gales in the near future As Vet the
business OF shipping wine and of preparing II
Tor shipment is in the hands of o few and The
owners of vineyards cannot compete with them
~ eoutioA IneIn. IN many ventures il has
been very profitable, and when the reputation
OF our wines IL established the shipments must
become still more profitable. Our wines are
oil made from perfectly ripe crops of cranes
such as the German and French yintner All ri
whose best growing'wine districts are north of
i1ntude "A deg. seldom sees; for the rain or
frost comes too early in the season for him.
ana then the great body of his wine has the
sOurness OF unripe grapes or he gives j; sweet
ness with grapeSugar made from potatoes.
1t is almost certain that the California
wine crop Of this year will be more than a
million gallons, and probably million and
a halt No accurate reports on the wine
yield have been made by either the State
or Federal assessors for previous years, but
1t may be expected from the Federal u.s.
SCISSOR for the current year. The hume
rous vineyards which are now approaching
the time for bearing full crop, promise q
very rapid increase in the yield OF wine.
and II we make 1900, 900 gallons in "a.
we may make $500, 900 in 'S5, or even
more If the market offers sufficient encour-
agement The State needs wine mer-
chants of experience and capital. with
branches Q, established in New York, and
california wine would soon rival that of
France in quality and price.