Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-10
COMMUNICATED.
Wine Co. Of Nelson Co.. Va.

The question is Virginia suited to tie euit,-
vaiun of the grapevine Is lucontestaty decd
Cd in the affirmative Not ouly the hills coy
cred with the wild vine. demonstrate that this,
nol,lest of ali plants, is natural 10 the climate
and soil, but time and events have also proved
that We can cultivate grapes successfully; anu
make wine of such excellence, to satisfy the
exn,ctatjon AMI the taste Of thuSe American
npoule whose prejudice or interests do not
stand in the way OF an unbiased judgment:
The natural ol ject Of grape cultivation Is the
manufacturing OF wine. the selling OF fruit beng
secondary, and can only be carried on III the
! Immediate neighborhuod Of large cities, aud
even In such favorable localities only as long rs
the extent of the cultivation Is 50 limited mat
4 plut of the market will not he produced.
! Many people are afraid of the derogatnry Ell
feet the extensive MAUI acturug uf VINE may
have upon the morals Ot the country: but they
are very much mistaken i'll that. Those WHO
never ved in grape growing country cannot
imariue what influence that nubls,t OF all fruit
aud IFS product the wine. has upon tie pros
| perity, the health and strength, the so!'rety,
the humur the alahty, AMI the activity amt
| Industry of its inhabitants. Americans who
! have travelled through Europe. express won
der AZ the entire a',seucc OF drunkenness IN
those little German, French and llaIian villa
! yes. where The wine made from their native
grapes is used 50 freely Wine will crowd out
! the villainuus whSkcy and Icry alcohol that Is
| now sold at every corner, an drunkenness VIII
| also lie unknown here. But there Is another
| advautaYe arising from the extensive culture Of
the grape. We will glory some day 10 our vine
clad hills. rivalng those oi Germany aud France.
! and will he glad that they add hnancI;.i!y TO
the interest OF our beautiful country. ana that
feeling will revive the energy ~ il people over
whcmcd by the Consequences 81 tie TAT" o'S-
aSiruuS war.
The drawbacks of the more rapid extension
nj the cultivation OF grapes in Nrs lIla are:
l. The lack of the capital absolutely neces-
sary to carry it on pI'iltahiy.
) The want OF knowledge Of the two bran-
cbes of the business. viz The culture ct the
grape and the manufacturing OF wirc.
= The lack OF Il sure market Tor the produce
The business has Two distinct branches, VIZ ::
The raising of grapes and the manufacturing
OF wine. The first one Is an horticultural husl
ness which can easily bc learned by any sens
lie farmer But the manufacturing or wine Is
40 art. which only can Lc atta,Iied by very
long cxueriencn II takes i"r nstance wei
cultivated and rracticcd taste to judge aoout
the altnes. ! i variety OF grapes fnr the plr-
j,>e VI making vine, the best eating GRAPES
being generally the most Inferior WING grapes
and to nix different varieties II making WINE
50 tha: one variety may make up the deficiency
Of another opc. The regulation vt the tc,mcrt-
alton. and the treatment OF the wine during
and alter the fermentation. requires u careful
and ,kiHfu manager. ALoher difficulty Is the
heavy exl.nSe for building Il suitable cellar,
buying press, casks ami numerous implements
and tools Indispensable Tor the purpose. 1t is
,tsr as impracticabic to Manufacture i No.
article OF wine without n gnOi cellar as 10 pre-
serve il in old tuSey whl>kcy barrels ne sale
of wine in small quantities Is aIsu very uiIcer
tain matter because wholesale dealers always
prefer TO buy larger quantities OF the same sort
while consuulrrs would rather procure their vine
from wholesale dealers. where they can make a
choice. In short The manufacturing OF wine Is
not morc business of grape growers thar the
manufacturing of smoking aud chewing Tobacco"
is business for tobacco growers.
The shortest and surest way 10 remove all
these drawbacks at once Is to ioin JpIut STOCK
companies, the oSj"ct of which l.:
|. RalSlng grapcs
= Manufacturing these grapes into wlne.
3. Buying grapes from other grape growers
and manu- featuring theru into wine.
Encouraging and supporting the culture
Of the grape, BY giving those who want III go III
through the Supcrintcudcnts Of the COMPANIES
grn,uitously
Such companies, stacked with a sufficiently
large capital guided ty prac!ral business ulen
assisted by experienced suwrlutcId.nts and
managers, will be school 10: those who enter
the grape growing business without the ncccS-
sary knowledge, and furnish at the sauic tune
a sure market for the grapes even to those who
are not in a condition 10 plant more than lew
vines aud will besides that. spare them the
heavy expenses, which arc connected with the
manufacturing of wine, and ihs trouble and un-
certainty OF the sale Of wine IN Smaller quaint
ties
The brilliant prospect of such vine compan-
les can best be demonstrated ny the tnIi"w"g
short history of the Peasant Valley Wine Co..
and the Urbaua Wine Co., both located at
Hammoudsport, Steubcn county, State of New
York L. q.
ITO be concluded to morrow