The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-16
UNDER THE VINE.
A Large Party Entertained by tho Off.
GERS of the Ita1ian-Swis
Colony.

The officers of the Italian-Swiss Agri-
cultural Colony of Asst rendered an invi-
tation last Saturday to 100 of their friends
TO visit the immense vineyard and winery
of the colony.
At half-past II o'clock the party arrived
at Asst, where the cars were switched along
side of the winery, which the excursionists
visited and were amazed at the immense
dimensions of some of the tanks, several of
which contained enough wine to supply a
person with one bottle of wine day if he
lived as long as Methuselah,
After mer1y-making for q few hours the
visitors took carriages and, headed by
President p. c.. Rossi and Secretary A.
Sbarboro. were driven around one of the
largest vineyards in the State. Fruit
orchards, olive. orange and lemon groves
were also visited on the colony lands, all
thriving and maturing to perfection with
out the aid of irrigation.
Toward evening the party was driven to
the beautiful town OF Cloverdaie, where
Mr.. Mcmillan placed the United States
Hotel at their disposal. The evening was
pleasantly passed in playing, singing and
dancing, and many did not visit their
couch until the small hours of the morn
ing.
Next day the visitors were shown many
interesting spots around Cloverdale and at
noon again seated themselves at the festal
board at the Colony House. Although the
matter was all informal, still a few
speeches were made by President P. c..
Rossi, Mr.. Thomas j. Welsh, Secretary A.
Sbarboro and few others. Mr.. Rossi
stated that there were no words required
on this occasion, as facts demonstrated
more clearly than words could tell what
this colony had done for the benefit of
Sonoma County and the entire State.
Mr. Sharb0r0 stated that fbjc erraaf GRO
cess had been achieved by the perfect har-
mony existing among the interested par
ties and by the intelligent, economical.
and. above all, honest management of the
affairs of the colony from its organization
to this day.
George Baer of the Cloverdale Reveille
told the listeners how, few years ago.
this immense tract of 1900 acres of land
was merely sheep ranch, and how the
colonists had transformed it into one of
the most beautiful spots on earth, and how
the product of the colony had successfully
competed with the wines of Europe at
several of the exhibitions both in Europe
and America. He showed how thousands
of acres of land now lying idle throughout
the State could be transformed into beau
tjful orchards and vineyards if the exam
pie of the Italan-Swiss colonists was
taken, which would help to populate the
State and meet the desire of the Half
million Club.
After lunch the party was driven to the
beautiful villa of Mr.. Sbarboro, the secre-
tary, wherein there are several mineral
springs and roads and lanes covered with
grape and flower arbors. Mr.. Sbarboro
treated his guests with lemonade made
with water from one of his own natural
soda springs and lemons grown on the
premises
Among those present were:
Mr.. and Mrs. F. C. Rossi. DIR. G. Ollino, Mr..
and Mrs. A. Sbarboro, Miss Aida Sbarboro, A.
Merle and family, Mr.. and Mrs. Ant Spinetti
Miss Henrietta Merlo, Mr.. and Mrs. c. a. Malm
Miss Lena Main. Mrs T. J. Welsh, Thomas
Giynn, +. W.. Seibel, R. DOYLE, Mr.. Wood, Mr.
ana Mrs. g. de Luca. Dom Rossi, Mr. Mora, R.
Albora, Mrs. Taber, G. Lepori, Alfred H. Sbar-
ooro, Mr.. and Mrs. George f. Cayallli, Miss An