Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-07
DIR WINE INTER- ST.
4 viticultural u Getting and Banquet With
Exclusively California Wines.


In response to an invitation CT the Pres
ident of the State Viticulturai Commission,
Charles A. Wetmore, extended especially
TO the members of the Ways and Means
Committee of the Assembly, a meeting was
held last evening in the large private din
ing-room of the Restaurant de France,
which proved an agreeable demonstration
of the high attainment of viticultural
enterprise in California. The object of the
meeting was to show in practical manner
the great results that are being achieved in
experimental vintages OF the highest grades
under the direction of the State Commits
sion, and incidentally to discuss the i'm
portance of continuing the support of this
Institution with ample appropriations.
Among the vine-growers present were G.
A. Wetmore, of Livermore valley, President
OF the Commission; John l. Baird, of
Irvington, member of the Board OF Regents
of The State University, and II. NJ. La Rue,
whose vineyards are in Yolo and Napa
counties OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee there were present Assemblymen
Shauahan, of Shasta, and Coombs of
NapA The other seats at the table were
filled by Acknowledgement Johnson, Sec
retary of State Hendricks, State Control
Ter Dunn, State Treasurer Herold, rep
resentatives of the press and others.
The dinner wss served il an elegant
manner, and full opportunity was given TO
show that with care and intelligence this
State can, if the efforts of the Commission
are fully seconded by private enterprise on
a larger scale than has heretofore been
tried in the past, furnish not only great
abundance of the ordinary wholesome
table wines, but also the rare wines, such
as the celebrated Rhenish Sauterne, Dor
deaux, Burgundies, Champagnes and Cog
macs, priced by epicures everywhere. For
several years the State Commission has
been producing, collecting and preserving
from grated vines OF the highest European
types small experimental vlntages, which
are now mostly ready for the bottle and fit
for the critical examination of connois-
seurs. A collection from these samples of
the State has already been forwarded to be
exhibited by the Agricultural Department
at Washington at the Paris Exposition and
another will be ready 10 go in charge of
the State Commissioners. 1t is confidently
expected that these exhibits will attract
much attention in Paris and be the means
of bringing large accessions of capital. now
much needed in developing our trade and
in further improving our vineyards.
Although il has been conceded that CAL
ifornia is a successful producer OF ordinary
sound stocks of understandable wines, critical
merchants and connoisseurs have persisted
in believing that we could never equal the
higher grades of wines which command
high prices and a worlds market The
State Commission proposes to dispel all
skeplical opinions of the sort and to place
California as the peer, if not the superior,
among all wine-producing countries. Al
though the samples now ready in the Com
missions cellar are yet rather young and
have not had time to develop in bottle ali
these characteristic qualities, yet the show
ing made last evening was sufficient TO con-
vince all that the day of our promised com
plete success is not far distant. What the
Commission has shown 10 be possible has
already brought excellent results and quite
considerable areas of vineyards are being
devoted especially to the production Of the
rarest and most costly vintages.
Through the agency of the Permanent
Exhibit, now opened in San Francisco, the
first small stocks of the choicest goods are
being made known to the public. and their
success is proved by the daily attendance of
the most tastidious men of San Francisco
in the cafe which is leased to first-class
restaurateur upon condition that only the
California wines on exhibit shall be sold,
The practical value OF this work is shown
also by the frequent visits of Eastern mer-
charts who have heretofore doubted our
great possibilities.
Kate Field has undertaken for the Com
mission to arouse in Eastern cities the in
terest of the fashionable circles in Califor-
mia vintages, and to break down the popu-
lar preiudices in favor of foreign brands,
which up to the present time have forced
jobbers, who buy from our wholesale
dealers our best wines at low prices, ruinous
10 producers, to place them before the pub
lie under foreign labels. as soon as it is
fashionable to use our best goods under
California labels, our producers will partic-
ipate in the great profits of the retailer.
This mission has been so much noticed
and criticised by the Eastern press, and
Miss Field has been so severely discussed,
that hundreds of thousands of people who
never knew anything of California wines
as presentable at fastidious tables are now
receiving their first impressions, and are
being excited by curiosity to inquire for
California goods.
This work, sanctioned by the State Gov.
eminent, is vastly important at this lime
when there are grave fears of over produc-
ton and consequent depreciation of land
values throughout the State. Our vine
wards are now capable OF producing, in a
favorable year, at least 80 GOO, 900 gallons of
wine; but growers have been much discour-
aged by low prices and the almost insur
mountable obstacle of popular prejudice
which restricts their markets and makes
their nab'e enterprises improbable. The
efforts of the Commission receive the cor
dial support Of at least 10000 people of
the State directly connected in one way or
another with the industry, and who are
struggling not only for their own existence,
but also to enrich the owners of many
millions of acres of land which win fall in
value if it should be proved that the in
dustry is financially q failure and not TO
be extended over greater areas.
The Viticultural Commission, the result
of whose labors was shown at last even
| ing's meeting is composed OF nine gentle
men, each of whom is skilled in the work
| of the Commission, and represents the fore
most class of our citizens; men who work
untiringly and without pay for the welfare
of the viticultural interests of the State.
Mr.. Wetmore last evening explained in
formally much of the working and pur-
| poses of the Commission, and spoke of the
greater organization of yine-growers and the
| need of continued legislation to still further
stimulate the work of this industry.
( The following is the section of the Act
approved February 26 1885, which enlarged
| the powers of the Commission, and under
which the permanent exhibit in San Fran
cisco and Kate Fields mission are created
| Section / The Board of State Viticultural
| Commissioners shall, in addition to its duties
already prescribed by law, adopt such measures
| as may be within its power, and in accordance
| with its best judgment, to advance the skill and
increase the technical knowledge of citizens of
this State who are engaged in viticulture and
| viniculture, by providing practical instruction
| to those requiring the same also, to assist pro
| ducers in finding profitable markets for their
| products, by extending commercial and popular
| knowledge OF the same throughout the United
states and foreign countries by means of public
| addresses, circulars, printed documents and
| personal efforts OF duly authorized representa-
| tives and lecturers of the said Board: and also
| 10 promote the general welfare of the people by
| distributing ana disseminating information and
scientific instruction concerning the rational
| uses and the dangers of abuses of fermented and
| alcoholic drinks. as well as also the methods OF
detecting and avoiding authorizations aud spuri-
Gus compounds
Highway Robbery.
| About midnight, Tuesday, a man was
stood up" on sire ct just above Fifteenth
| by two highwaymen. One came up from
| hobfnd apG ,,;uiouad biS arms mhiia HE