Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-01
TILE PRODUCTION IN 1851.

THE PRODUCTION IN 1891.
In 1887, if no more vineyards are planted
than those reported in 1884, there will be
over 10000 acres of bearing vines growing
in the counties named This may seem
startling: but it must be remembered that
only certain percentage of growers will
present a marketable grape, as only the
very best will be shipped, while large
area of the above counties are too tar from
the railroad to supply much more than the
home market Admitting that we should
have Is 900 tons of grapes to ship in 1887,
il does not seem incredible that, with cheap
TRANSPORTATION, we should be able to find
market among the 50000,000 of people
who live east of the Sierra. | will
leave some one else to compute the
number of cars necessary and whether
the cars can be furnished for tranSporta-
ton.
THE WINE PRODUCTION
The estimate of the wine production is
upon another basis. The Assessors for 1884
reported that there were growing in the
State grapes for wine as follows:
Acres of vines year 7,9l
Acres of vines years $50
Acres of vines years od.................... S9.6
Acres of vines years 500
Acres of vines years old and over.".....20, 033
Total number of 90 10
This report is exclusive of Los Angeles,
whose Assessor made no report save to
write about $4,000 acres and what pro-
portion of that amount is devoted to wine
grapes | have no means of knowing. Nj
Wetmore estimates that there will be. in
1885, 10000 acres of vines years old and
over; in 1856, 10000 acres in 1887. 140,-
600 acres, and that the percentage of table,
shipping and raisin grapes will be about %
per cent; that the wine crop for 1854 was
II, 100000 gallons (estimated) that for 1885
it will be 100000 gallons, and that in
1887 we shall make 100000 gallons Of
wine and 100000 gallons of brandy. So
far as | have heard, we have had no diff
Guilty in disposing of our wine. and the
question is, VIII the taste for our wines in
the East keep pace with our productions?
We must estimate that q certain percentage
of vineyardsts will utterly fail to make a
mark etable wine.
SUCCESSFUL CLASS OF WINES.
Again the taste for excellent wine will be
so cultured in a few years that common
wine, or the wine which passes muster
now. will not be salable. Of course this
will be the ruin of some who planted heed
lcssly, but the end will be the establish
ment of commercial types of wine which
will meet the wants of the people of the
United States. The future success of wine
growing lies in producing a cheap and
transportablc wine within the ability of the
larger class of people to purchase. That
we shall produce such a wine IS now past
all doubt Within the past three years
thanks to the stimulus Of the Fiticultura
Commission and the enterprise of num-
Der of gentlomen-large plantations of the
noble wines of Europe have been made
and, as the report says The wine mar
kets within the next three years will wit
ness yeritable revolution of general
average and quality" Hence | say that
there will be no over-prOduction Of wine
from vineyards intelligently planted, but
to those who are planting coarse varieties
Malvasia, and unsuitable varieties, such as
the Iinlandel, | can offer no hope, except
thcy shall graft over their vines with other
varieties suited to market and locality.
WHAT GRAPES TO PLANT.
Speaking Of table grapes, so far the only
grapes which have stood shipment TO the
East are the Tokay, Muscats, Cornichon.
Black Ferrar. and Emperor, and possibly
varieties. no doubt, among those late
ly imported which will prove valuable.
We are looking with great interest to the
Natoma vineyard at Folsom, for the result
Of the experiments By Mr. Liyermore.
Those who are wise enough to plant re,
siStant vines, by the time the stocks are.
ready TO be grated, will be in . position to
select the best varieties from that vineyard
VARIETIES FOR WINE.
In respect to the proper wine Crane 10
J4Ig51f fhp fold 10 a L. / l.
a rash man who should recommend any
one or more varieties for every locality in
the State. The most that can be doneis to do
as the Executive Officer of the Commission
does, i. e., lay down general principles by
which intelligence may be guided Il
strikes me that we should seek to approach
the types OF wine which are the iavorites in
Europe aud which are drank in all parts of
the world. It may be patriotic and admin
lister 10 our pride as CaGfornians to try to
produce q distinctive California wine; but
fear it cannot be done in our generation.
We must leave that for our children. How
ever, we can do mudl towards that end
even while initiating European wines. To
US there are known
CERTAIN TYPES OF WINE.
To wit, the so-called claret or Bordeaux
wine of the Mcdoc type, sautern. hook.
burgundy port and sherry. The taste for
and the types Of these wines have been
established for centuries, and California
wines are judged in the United States bv
the standard of those wines The authori-
ties in the State Library tell me that the
wine of the south of France. produced on
the Mediterranean, from the Maioro Gre
nache and Carignan grapes, is exported to,
the Bordeaux country to be blended with
and ha,sra :
wisely encouraged the growth of those
grapes in the warmer portions of the State.
we can never expect to grow u so-cailed
fine, light wine in the valleys Of the inte-
ror or in the foothills of the Sierra. We
must start with this rs an accented fact
In the valleys and ON the lower slope of the
foothills we may expect success with wines
OF the sherry and port types There is
now no excuse for any one 10 manufacture
a nauseous imitation of port and sherry
from the Mission grape, as has been done
and IS being still done in The State, when
we have the
TRUE TORT AND SHERRY CRAP:
Easily obtained. Plant or graft on the
Trousseau for port wine, and the Eerdclho,
Pedro XimeneS and Palomino Blanco. The
two last varieties are scarce, but may be
obtained in q few years. Mr.. Harazthy
gave II TO me rs his opinion that the future
white wine of California would be grown
near the snow line OF the Sierra, and this is
hint for those who contemplate planting
vineyards scout Coliax, in Placer county.
l shall have something to say hereafter
about the latter plantations. am of the
opinion that the grapes for red wine will
best succeed in The foothills, and 1t is OF the
creates: moment that we should start right,
ar we shall all suffer
EFFECT OF FoorHILL CLIMATE.
The foothills are, contrary to the received
opinion among some, rs warm in the sum-
mer as the valleys and in the night time
are several degrees warmer than the Sacra-
mcnto valley as far north IS Sacramento
I city. Hence the grapes grown are dis
tinguished by a high degree Of saccharinc
| matter, producing of course Il wine OF high
alcoholic strength. The fruits Of the foot
hills have always been distinguished foT
their excessive sweetness and high flavor
/ But while this is merit in all table fruit
I it is an obstacle to the production of dry
light wine. The grape ripens too early and