Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-07-25
NoRwALK, July %, 1878.

presume that vineyards will not
yield more than q ton of grapes to
the acre so that the cultivation of
the Mission grape at these figures
cannot be deemed profitable. IN
deed when we consider the cost of
cultivation, together with the capi-
tai involved, 1t is an absolute loss
20 those who cultivate it. But 1
desire to be just to those who es-
pouse Its cause, particularly those
who once advised destruction with
Z view Of substituting 1t with for.
eign varieties.
Several years ago Don Mateo
Keller received through his banker
iu San Francisco, ITO varieties of
foreign grapes which he carefully
planted In his vineyard, hoping to
Ind Ut least some that would yield
him . superior wine-a wine supe.
rior to that made from the Mission
grape. Thus far he seems to
have been disappointed in his eff
ferts aud now manufactures his
wines from the very grapes he at
one time advised others to destroy,
and he claims to have received rec
ognition for the superiority of his
wines. 1t is true that the Don
did receive o premium for Angelica
- species of wine which, in the
English language, would be more
properly designated grape syrup.
It would be strange If the Mission
grape did not yield syrup Of some
sort, fer 1t is heavily charged with
saccharine matter, and Don Mateo
Keller holds a medal which he re-
ceived at the Centennial Exhibit
tiOn for the superiority of his Ange
lea. I have carefully examined his
stock of wines however, without be-
Ing able to fiud a single sample
that would pass for more than ordi-
nary in a foreign market; but they
have the merit OF purity,
which is vastly more than can he
said Of most of the foreign wines
Imported into the United States.
The consumer will be ast0uished to
learn that the latter are nothing
more than compound of favoring
extracts suited to the vitiated
tastes OF those who patronize the
ordinary grOg shop.
/ have conversed with many
viticulturists who acknowledge
that q really good wine cannot be
manufactured out of Mission grapes,
but assert that wines manufactured
out of the foreign varieties will not
do well in this climate-that 1.-THE
wine will not keep For the first
six months it gives the utmost sat
isfaction, but age depreciates it.
If this theory should prove true il
would be sad indeed for the wine
interests of Los Angeles county.
/ cannot concur in the views thus
advanced. The wine cellars have
seen are not constructed on scien-
tific principles to obviate climatic
influences on the wine. That such
cellars could be built do not en-
terrain the slightest doubt. Sup
pose, however, that these difficult
ties cannot be overcome the viii
culturist could readily ship his
new wine to climate more suita.
BILE for maturing il. This,
doubtless, would be expensive az
first, but competition must soon
obviate that difficulty.
/ am indebted to friend for
copy of "London Society," con-
tanning most instructive article
on "The wines of heal:h," portions
of which are so peculiarly applica-
BILE to the matter at issue that |
cannot resist the temptation of re-
producing sketches from the arti-
Gle referred to.
IA remarkable fact connected
with wines is, that certain world
famous viutages are obtained from
localities which ordinary observers
would pronounce, at first sight, to
he little likely to produce them;
while other spots equally or appa-
rently more favored by circum-
stances supply either nothing at all
or very little indeed to the general
wine harvest OF the country, and |
that little OF such quality as to be
never mentioned or publicly ac.
knowled5ed. 1t disappears by con-
sumption ut home, or it is absorbed
by admixture with, and falsifica-
tion of, other wines, which pro-
cure its admittapce into unsuspect-
ing households under q style and |
title to which it has no right"
"The tourist who has slipped de-
lici0us Rhine wine in the midst of |
its numerous picturesque BIRTH
places, gratifying at the same time
his eyes and his palate, or who has
washed down the game and fruits
of Burgundy with its rose-scented,
ruby-tinted, native beverage, with
in sight of the long range of hills
which give the department its
name of Cot1 -rOr, the Golden
Slope, will naturally associate SUI
perior wine with rocky declivities
fully facing the sun. What will be
his surprise on approaching Bor-
deaux, and still more on proceeding |
further on, to traverse the far-famed |
plain of Medoc! He will behold a
tract OF land which, without |
being aware of accomplished |
facts, he would pronounce to
be moderate or Indifferent for
agricultural purposes; and yet,
here on these unpromising
flats, which lie between the river
Gar0nne and the sea,are grown the
so-called clarets for the cream OF
which the capital cities of the world
try to outbld, and of which Second,
third, fourth, or fifth qualities) u
greater quantity is handed over to |
commerce than the most abundant |
years can produce within the stated
limits. Even close to vine-
yards Of high reputation there is
no lack of uncnltivated spots per-
fumed and frightened up by the
blossoms OF heath and furze, inter-
mingled with shabby pines
and sundry stunied, thorny, crab
bed shrabs."
1t will thus be seen that, though
yiticuIturists NAV have imported