Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-23
Sl55, 900, 900 IN GRAPES.
AN AREA OF 400, 900 ACRES IN VINES
IN THE UNITED STATES.

Wine and 32O coo Tons OF Table
Grapes Statistics Gathered for the
First Time California the Wonder
land of the Vine.
Il have no doubt that it will sur
prise even grape and wine growers them
selves to know that there are invested in
vineyards and wine cellars in the United
States over 1856, ,000, 900, said Colonel H.
Gardener, special agent of the census
Office for the collection of statistics re-
lating to viticulture, a branch of agricult-
ure which has never before received any
official attention in this country. i find
by statistics, which are now collected for
the first time, that there are in round
numbers 100000 acres of land in this
country planted to vineyards, of which
100000 will be in bearing this year. This
is an increase Of 220, 900 acres in vineyard
area during the past 10 years and an in
crease of over $40, 100000 year in the
capital invested. OF the area of bearing
vines in the country California alone has
10000 acres, including $4,000 acres of
raisin grapes. That State also has of the
total investment of capital nearly $78,-
100000. Between $4,000 900 and 40, ,000,-
600 gallons of wine will be made in the
United States this year, of which Cali
fornia will produce more than half
Seven-eighths of the grapes of California
go to the wine press. Four-fifths of the
grapes grown in all the rest of the United
States are for table use. California alone
grows the raisin grape.
II spent three tbs in California this
l.. "a 4.
cultural interests. Although every county
in the State produces grapes, the princi-
pal counties of the vine are Napa, So
noma, Fresno, Santa Clara, San Diego,
San Bainardine, and Los Angeles, al
though there are many others of more or
less Importance. The counties of Fresno,
San Barnardino, San Diego, and Tulare
comprise the great raisin district, and
will cure 1000, 900 boxes this fall, prod
uct worth at least s.. .000, 900. The grapes
grown for raisins are the Muscat of
Alexandria and the Muscat del Gardo
Blanco. These counties grow large
quantities. of wine grapes also, and the
sweet wines of California come princi-
salIy from that district. Fresno county
has $4,000 acres of vineyards, Sonoma
81 ,000, and Napa 10000.
The grapes grown in California to-day
include every variety that have made the
vineyards of Europe famous. The culti-
vation of the grape in California dates
0ack to the days of the old Spanish friars,
The Franciscan fathers, who brought
with them from their native land cut
tings of grape popular there. Just
what the true name of the grape was no
body seems to know now, and very few
care, for while there are In bearing to-day
some of the vineyards or vines set out by
the jolly Franclscans a century or more
ago, the grape is not in high esteem now
adays. 1t has always been known as the
mission grape. The old mission vineyard
supplied grapes for the table and the
wine press in California until compara-
lively short time ago. Then a Hungarian
grape known as the Zinfandel was intro
duced. This newcomer was handsome,
proved to be generous producer, and
took the popular heart.
1T proved to be an unfortunate one,
for it seemed SO easy to grow the Tin
fandel that everybody planted vineyards.
When they began to bear they bore with
avengeance. The market became choked
with grapes, and prices went down to
disastrous figures. It became apparent
that the Zinfandel was an inferior grape
after all, and to cap the climax the
phylloxera came down on the Hungarian
importion and bore it away, vineyard
after vineyard. No new vineyards were
replanted with the Zinfandel, and the
vine is being replaced with the choicest
and hardest varieties of wine grapes
from the famous districts of Europe, in
Guiding Cabernet Sauvignon, Carbanet
Franc, Malbock, Tarnat, MerIot, and st.
Laurent grapes from the Bordeaux dis
tricts; Mataros grapes from Palos; Sc
millions and Sauvignons from Sauterne;
Pinot and Petite Sirrah grapes from the
Burgundy districts; Johnnisbergers,
Traminers and Franken Rieslings from
the storied Rhine; Chasselos grapes from
Alsace Lorraine, and the rich Burgers
from Moselle.
California has the largest vineyard in
the world. The vineyard is in Tahama
county, on Senator Leland Stanford's
famous SO, 900 acre farm. 1t contains
4,UOO dGKtSs O6U1bDI C68uIOTO Also ne# n
wine cellar ON his vineyard Of notable
capacity. There are now stored in it
1000, 900 gallons Of wine and 300, 600 gal
Ions of brandy. They have been now in
storage four years. The government tax
on the brandy alone was $270, 900, which
had to be paid before it left the still. A
more remarkable case Of persistent
storage of brandy is that of the estate of
the late General Nagle, who was one of
the pioneer wine growers of California.
The cellars have held $4,000 gallons Of
brandy in store since 1871. This brandy,
including cost Of making, tax, shrinking,
and interest, now represents cost of $14
q gallon. The largest wine cellar IN the
world IS owned BY Baume & Wise, near
st. Helena, their capacity being $500, 600
gallons. Thirteen tunnels extend $50
feet into tie side hill from the main
building They are sixteen feet wide
and eleven high. The building IS 100
feet long and 50 wide, built of volcanic