Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01
CALIFORNIA WINES.
INTERESTING EXHIBIT OF THIS ZAP
IDLY-aRoWIhG INTEREST.
Statements Showing the Areas Of Vines
Planted, Growing Etc. vintagss-
Revenue Tax - Government Aid.

Written for the RECORD UNION by Charles A Wet
more, Chief Executive Horticultural officer Of
California;
The future of grape growing and the
wine industry in California is of great i'm.
portance, and in which industry large ad-
ditions of capital. energy and experience
from foreign fields, as well as among our
own viticulturists of the past, are con.
stantly being made. The outlook, not.
withstanding the presence in the State of
certain insect enemies of the vine, is au.
spicious. Pressure of official duties will
not permit an extended al ticle upon the
subject at this time, but brief statement
of the acreage of vineyards and of wine
and brandy productions will be of interest
to those not familiar with the facts.
have estimated, without the aid of accu.
rate statistics, the area of vines in Califor-
mia as follows: Planted prior to 1881, and
now bearing, 90, 600 acres; planted in
1881, TO- 600 acres planted in 1852, 81, 900
acres; planted in 1888, 81, 900 acres esti-
mate for planting in 1854, 80, 900 acres.
BEARING VINES AND NINTAGES,
l should say in relation to bearing vines
five years old and upwards, that there will
be in 1885 20, 900 acres in 1856, los, 600:
in 1887, 100000. and in 1855, 10. 900.
which would make a total area of bearing
vines in 1855 of ASS, 900. These may be
estimated as 20 per cent. of vines planted
for table, shipping and raisin purposes and
so per cent. for wine and brandy | est.
mate the vintages as follows: For 1881.
$1,000, 900 gallons 1882, 5000 600; 1883,
5000, 600; 1884 nominal yield), IA O0O,-
600; 1885 nominal yield) $4,000, 600;
1856 nominal yield, 20, OOO, 900: 1887
nominal yield), 25,0OO 600; 1883 (nom.
inal yield, 5000 600. These es.
Inmates may appear low, but will
probably hold true in the average. Not all
the vineyards planted will be carefully
cultivated not all are planted in the best
locations. The figures given include
brandy, as wine; excepting brandy dis
titled from pomace, which will be large
but inferior product. As the new vines
come into bearing, owing to deficiency of
cellarage and imperfections in fermentation,
for number of years probably consider
able percentage of wine will be distilled.
the quality of our brandies will improve.
DISTILLATIoN AND REVENUE TAN.
1 expect that in 1888 one-third of the crop
will be distilled, requiring an average Of
four gallons of wine to produce one of
brandy proof, Hence we shall have in
1887 about l6, 600, 900 gallons of wine, and
100000 gallons of brandy. In 1855
about % 000,0 gallons of wine, and
5000, 900 gallons of brandy. The forego-
ing figures do not include pomace brandy.
II the present Internal Revenue tax
should remain, the Government would de-
rive from the vintage of 1883 81, 700, 900
from our brandy product alone. insist
that the Government should pay into the
State Treasury percentage of the tax on
brandy, to be used by the State in ad-
vancirg the viticultural industries by the
proper maintenance of viticultursl schools
University branch particularly, viticult-
ural experimental fields and laboratories,
and the protection of vineyards from dis.
ease. The United States should not per.
NIT its citizens to keep back seat in witt
cultural councils.
Constantly improve, but the first great step
in advance-when the open markets will
feel the greatest impetus from the effect of
a largely. Increased proportion of superior
grades of wine-will be in 1887, when the
vintage OF 1856 ia offered to the dealers,
that vintage including the crops of the
fve.year. old vines planted in 1882, in
which year . larger number of choice vines
were planted than in all the preceding
This impetus will be accelerated in 1883
on the strength of the two year-old vintage
of 1886, backed by the promise of a much
greater improvement in the vintage of
1887. In 1883 we may think, for the first
time, of practically opening foreign mar
ket, having then stocks of sufficient guam
tity, age and quality to test the London
trade. American commerce in good table
wines and brandies will fairly commence
in 1888.
GRAPES FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
1t is easier TO guess at than to estimate
the results of the table, shipping and
raisin grape crops. l believe, however,
that the markets willincrease more rapidly
than the crops. The American people,
under tae influence of custom, made easy
by the canning and fruit transporting in
dustrieg, ia becoming hsbtuated to the
constant use of fruit and vegetables as
articles of regular diet Facilities for
transportation, it is probable, will keep
pace with this growing trade. Realizing
how much the future prosperity of the
State will be dependent upon fruit and
wine culture, our people should anticipate
future wants by providing amply for the
education of special class of experts and
for the protection of orchards and vine.
yards. The efforts OF the State so far have
been crowned with partial success; there
is, however, a great need of more compre-
hensive public instruction and general re-
search than the limited funds provided for
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