The New York herald., 1871-10-23

been dedicated by 1t here during the last
fifteen years.
The State Grape Grswers' Associates n-The
Wine-Prodaciag CapacIlos Of tho United
States. ias
The remarkable success OF the fourth
annual Fair OF the New York State Grape
Growers' Association affords most encourag-
ing view Of the wine- producing capacities Of
the United States. The fair was held at Ham
mondsport, about three hundred and twenty
five miles distant from New York city, and the
head centre Of region devoted to grape cul-
ture and wine making. A full and minute
description Of this region, which has worthily
won the title Of the Epernay Of America, was
recently given by a HERALD correspondent,
who surprised many thousands Of the resi-
dents In our metropolis by revealing the fact
that within days ride they may find in
Western New York, and particularly in the
counties Of Steuben, Schuyler, Yates and On
tario, and on the borders Of Lakes Keuka,
Seneca, Cayuga and Canandaigua, q grape
growing and wine-making country which
already promises to rival the northern border
Of European viniculture made famous by
Rheims, Epernay, Ay, Cote dor and Johan-
nisberg. It is manifest that in America as in
Europe we must look to the higher latitudes
for grapes Of the finest favor and wines of the
richest bouquet.
At the recent fair in Hammondsport there
were six hundred entries of grapes. Not
withstanding the drawback that this is not
first class grape season the three tables, each
hundred feet long, which we're covered with
plates Of grapes, made an admirable show.
All the commonly grown varieties and many
newer kinds, such as the Croton, Senasqua,
Una, Seneca, Irving, Walter and Eumalan,
together with q score Of unnamed seedlings,
were exhibited. The latest variety Of Catawba
was unequalled in size Of cluster and berry.
The Iona, which Is considered by wine
makers the best Of American grapes, was az
abundant as the moro common varieties.
Not the least interesting and suggestive Incl
dent Of the fair was the result Of the competi-
ton for the fifty dollar prize offered by the
Pleasant Valley Wine Company for the best
sparkling wine Of American or foreign manu-
facture. Every precaution was taken to
secure the fairness and impartiality Of the
contest. The committee sat In q room by
themselves, and glasses, numbered to corre-
spond with the thirteen bottles on trial, were
filed outside of the room and brought to them,
with no other designation than the numbers.
Among the competing foreign wines were the
Duo de Montebello, Roederer, st. Marceaux
and Jules Mumm. The palm of victory was
awarded unanimously to an American wine,
''The Great Western Sparkling, manufactured
by the company which offered the prize.
This Is the first challenge and victory Of the
kind. The result Is not relied upon to prove
The infsriority of European wines, but it as
suredly indicates the perfection which wine
making has already attained In America.
When our wine growers shall have acquired
the patience and assiduity exacted in European
vineyards, and our wine makers the skill and
experience Of their European rivals-Ameri-
can ingenuity and enterprise meanwhile de-
vising new and improved processes and
plans-we may be confident that not Western
New York alone, but other portions of the
Empire State and numerous regions through
out the land, will literally contribute towards
securing the recognition of the United States
as one Of the best and greatest wine producing
countries 10 the world.
II Is estimated that upwards of twenty
thousand persons In the western portion Of
this State are engaged in various ways In
grape growing and wine making, that their
field Of labor covers twenty thousand acres
and that capital Of nve million dollars is
employed upon 1t. But although the vineyards
Of Western New York have no parallel for
extent on this side Of the Rocky Mountains,
their product Is but drop in the bucket COM
pared with the aggregate OF the future
yield throughout the Union. On the
borders OF Lake Erie, on the northern
bank Of the Ohio, in the Shenandoah
Valley, in the mountains Of Virginia, in South
Carolina and North Carolina, In Illinois, Indi-
ana, kentucky and Missouri-in fact, in every
State, and especially in Texas, Arizona and
the southern part Of Alta California, wine is
now produced Of q quality 50 superior and In
30 great quantity ~ to warrant the predic-
tion that tho wine markets of the world will
4 l. T.