The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-14
American Wines

About Il dozen years ago mer-
chant In Philadelphia was called up
on by an agent, who tried to sell him
wine made IN America, but failed
The idea that wine of home manu-
facture was fit for a coDpoisseur was
fhen considered a huge joke, and the
merchant and his friends had a
hearty laugh over it. To-day the
same gentleman is among the largest
purchasers of native wine in the
country. This is fair example of
the change which has been wrought
in public opinion ia regard to what is
already an important branch of in
dustry by the energy and perseve-
rance Of a few men.
Longworth's extensive vineyards
and those Of Kelly's Island are well
known but it is only lately that the
wines produced there have, to any
extent. taken position of rivalry
with Heidsick and Veuve Clicquot.
Now, however, the banks of the
Ohio and the shores of Lake Erie
are covered with vines, and the sturdy
Teuton imagines himself again on the
Rhine as he gathers his grapes for the
wine press. California has recently
begun to take rank as a W ne growing
region, and New Jersey has proved
her ability to produce fruit in no way
inferior to either Of the States named.
and not only the lighter wines, but
port, sherry and claret are manufac-
tured there fully equal to any import
ed, IN body, color and bouquet, and,
what is better still, without medica
tion."
At Passaic and Vineland, New Jer-
sey, the cultivation of the grape has
attracted considerable attention for
some years, and at these points, as
well as on the mountain slopes and at
several points on the Hudson River,
there are extensive vineyards. many
of which are owned by Al red Speer,
who, from a small beginning, and in
spite of obstacles of no ordinary kind.
has attained great success as a vine
grower. His vineyards, near Passaic
and other places, comprise from fifty
to one hundred acres, on which are
raised vines of different varieties
some of the most difficult to bring to
maturity. Among them is the i'm
ported Oporto grape, from which is
made the port grape wine, which re
walls in every quality the original port.
As may be supposed, the utmost care
and unceaslng attention were ueces-
sary to bring the slips of the Oporto
grape to bearing point, through all
the vicissitudes of our climate, but
they are now healthy and vigorous,
and prolific bearers. Mr.. Speere's
mode of cultivation differs from that
generally adopted, his vines being
trained to separate upright support,
and wires and lattice work entirely
dispensed with. By this means
thorough ventilation. The grapes are
to hang until October, when
they become " dead ripe" They are
then gathered and put in the wine
press, whence the juice is conveyed in
pipes to watts where it is allowed to |
remain until fermentation sets in. IF |
it is intended to manufacture red wine,
the skins and pulp are allowed to re-
main on the must" but these are
removed if white wine is des red. I
The juice is soon racked off f" into |
barrels, and stored away in another
building, the date being marked on
each barrel. After successive rack
ings," to give proper fineness, the
barrels are removed to an inside eel
lar. where the temperature is always
the same. Here they remain until the
wines are from three to five years old. |
which is the necessary age.
The average productions of the |
vineyards controlled by Mr.. Speer is
about sixteen thousand gallons a year.
Al =, IL q
his manufacture, for, stimulated by |
his example, some farmers have given
their attention to grape growing, in
many instances turning to profitable |
account land otherwise unproductive. |
So rapidly has the demand for Ca
taw ba and port grape wines of New |
ersey manufacture increased, that it |
was found necessary to enlarge the |
cellarage and storage accommoda-
tons, aud fne three story building,
one hundred feet front, has been |
having underneath a deep
rather, tYo-one within |
the other-Where any requisite tenn
perature can be steadily maintained. |
A number of other buildings adjacent |
are also occupied in connection with |
the business; one on the hill is called |
the press house" and another the
: tank house"
So successful has the experiment
proved, that it is safe to predict that
IN few years the banks of the Pas
sale and the eastern slope of the Blue
Ridge will be covered for miles with
vines.
Catawba and port grape are men
toned above as New Jersey wines,