The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-08-23

The crop Of grapes In Californis the
present year will probably be the
largest ever known. Greater atten ton
than ever u being paid to grape cul-
ture, and the quantity OF wine that
will be the result Of this seasons pro-
duct cannot be les than 5000, 600 gal
Ions, which, At % cents gallon,
would yield . revenue of $2,00O, 900.
The largest portion Of the grape crop,I
hnd, IL turned into wine, brandy and
vinegar, while the remainder Is used
for the table, and converted into
Taisins. Probably there are not less
than 80, 600, 900 vines now under cul-
tivation In the State, all growing In
the middle and southern portions.
The 60noma Valley IL the great wine
district. The county Of Napa, which
. few years ago was almostgiven up to
wheat raising, II now nearly one Inn
mense vineyard. st1l,,,
AS the result Of my observations in
some fthe vineyards have visited, /
hnd that the soil and climate OF Cali
fornia seems to be especially adapted to
grape culture. 1t makes no difference
whether the vines are grown on rich
the dry and scribe hill slopes of the
6ierras. In fact, the wine made from
grapes grown on the latter Is stronger
and considered OF q better quality than
the valley wines. Where vineyards
depend upon irrigation am told that
the water greatly deteriOrates the
grape for e-making. The charact-
er and quality Of the wine made ap-
pear to be greatly influenced by the
climate and soil. Take the same
variety Of grape and plant the wire in
different sections, and you get differ
emit quality Of wine. From the same
vine also find that different brands
are made, many Of which are of
superior excellence in color and rich
ness, and make desirable table wines.
Some Of the wine-makers claim that
their wines will favorably compare
with the best of foreign importations
and In some respects fully equal them.
If what am Informed Is true, there
are millions of gallons bearing French
and German labels sold for foreign
wine which is really California wine.
This shows that 1t Is the brand that
governs wine drinkers and not the
quality of the wine, and also indicates
that there are but few wine drinkers
who are judges Of the article. There
Is no doubt In my mind that an inn
mense quantity Of California wine
shipped to the East gets doctored"
by middlemen, and that the consum-
ers there don't always get the pure
grape juice. also learn that in ship
ping either by rail or water, some of
the more delicate wines are impaired
In flavor and bouquet by certain chem
ical changes which take place on the
way. Ordinary wines, however, can
be shipped with but slight injury. d,
The original grape vines were plant
ed In this State century ago by the
first missionaries. But the eafly mis-
sion vine, although yet largely culti-
waited, Is greatly outnumbered by for
eign importations which are far supe-
riOr. Some of the vineyards are very
extensive, covering exhausted grain
fields and abandoned placer mining
districts. An acre Of land will produce
nearly four hundred gallons Of wine.
Fourteen pounds of grapes will make
one gallon of brandy. In five years
the wine product has increased over
two hundred per cent. Last year there
was falling of in Eastern sales, prob
ably not one million gallons being
shipped, This left such q large sur
plus here that the cellars of numerous
winners are now overstocked. This
will probably affect the demand for
this years vintage.
The principal variety of wines made
are hook, champagne, sherry, and port.
In flavor and aroma some of these
brands, q gentleman who processes to
be q connoisseur tells me, will fully
equal the best foreign brands. An ex-
cellent article Of claret is made from
the Zingndle grape. All of the poor
and unsaleable wines are made into
brandy. The strong wines are the
best for distillation. Last year there
were over 100000 gallons Of brandy
made, and this year there will be more.
There are some defects In brandy maxi
ing which skill and experience will
undoubtedly remedy. Most of the
brandy made Is crude and fiery, and is
not In such demand as the different
red and white wines.
grape are made into raisins. have
seemed equal to the best foreign inn
portation. The genuine Malaga Mus.
catel Is raised in numerous vineyards.
There 10 one rasin grower who expects
to turn out in the course Of four or five
years some lOO, 900 boxes annually, or
one-ninth of the entire importation Of
the country ct the present time. There
are now only made some Is, 600 boxes
in the whole State, but their manu-
factuYe IL increasing because Il Is q
profitable industry. A grape grower
Informs me that he can make money
at making and selling raisins at cents
per pound but he prefers converting
his 0rapea into wine because IL n
more profitable. ~
There seems to be general opinion
that the wine industry Of California
before many years will be carried on
to such an extent that she will take
the lead In the markets OF the world
for her vine product. Every year in
creases the reputation of her wines.
One advantage she possesses over
European grape growing countries
and that is while their vineyards are
subject to the terrible ravages of phyl-
loxera, here such "A pest Is almost
wholly unknown. s. cSL AQL