The Sunday herald., 1886-12-19
GRAPE AND WINE CHAT.


Why is the course persisted in to call wines from
the Pacific Coast Hooks, Burgundies, Ports, sherres
Maderas, Clarets, and similar appellaons used for
foreign wincs7 This question Is frequently asked,
and the fact criticised In patriotic anger. The
couner-1uestlon arises, then, How should those
American growtis be named?
Saulerne has been begun TO be made from one 6f
two French propagatlons that yield wine of tina,
type. Would "Coombar" or "Semlllonn or "Sau-
vignon," which are names OF such varieties, be
clearer than the typical designation OF Sau'etne,
wehncwn namc2 California wineries will sup
ply sautefnes made from the varieties Of grapes
blended RI the originals are combined In France.
California Sauterncs will oiaini trnt with those
made from the Same fruit In France.
Tho name "iIock" for Rhensh wines s altogether
a corruption. But the name exists, and white wines
bearing II are well known. The name should not,
however, be applied 10 our American growths from
Rhenish propagatlons. We may frankly call them
by the grape variety name, he II Riesling, Burger,
Sylvanct, Chassclas, or any other. White mission
grape Juice can claim no analogy with wine OF a
Rhine type. Tfad6 dates 20 call " IIock, Though,
very often.
Claret may be the generic name for red wines, m,
In specific sense, for Bordeaux Wines In the ai.
ter sense thefc arc no Clarets In the California
trade. But there viii he soon, when the Bordeaux
plants In California viii yield. First fruits OF those,
highest of all varieties have for some years proved
that we shall have TO expect great success wh them.
The Hlnfandcl vine allows us to supply wines OF
light construction and great beauty.
The Iinfandel wine from good locations and well
made may take the place. as II does thus far, OF
rlafpt aiIphtly NOS tbn tvna m
moretre to its Magyar origin In Its expression and
nature.
There are Burgundy wines from vines propagated
from France OF the varieties yielding such types
there. Recently thousands OF acres have been
planted with cuttings from the To-kalUt plantation
ofthc Pinot Noir, called Crabb's black burgundy.
since the merits OF the same became known, aud
the TO-Kalon Burgundy wine excited enthusiasm
among vitlcultursis in California. The name Of
California Burgundy Is more clear and justinablc
than Pinot or what other variety may be employed
for Its viniHcation.
The crop OF 1856 has turned out pretty copious,
aud as TO quality grand one. AT the To-Knlon
winery Mr.. w. Crabb fermentcd round half mil
lion gallons, or more than 10000 barrels OF wines
For Washington the success Of the quality OF these
wines can he considered boon, for the choicest Of
them will come to the vaults here. In no cellar In
the Union will there be finer wines.
The ease with which such wines at accessible
prices can he selected right here will contribute TO
the lisc Of them ut the family board.
The hyglcnic virtues Of u modicum OF pure, good
wine for assimilation Of food will hcnceforth de-
serve the attention Of the physician. Pure table
wine will cause the dyspeptic TO renounce patent
for no better prescription than fruit acids
aud salts In the best compositions as they are con-
aned In wine, can be given for the healthy and the
But not for dram m-drlnking, but for the
meal, wine has 1t mission. Il. POBSDoRFP,
Eleventh and + streets.