The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-21
CALIFORNIA WINE.
The Vintage of 1895 Expected to Equal
or Slightly Exceed the Crop
of 1894.

The Vintage of 1898 Expected to Equal
or Slightly Exceed the Crop
of 1894.
The California Winemakers' Corporation
has issued circular to the members on
the opening of the 1895 vintage. 1t con-
tains some interesting data on the last
vintage.
Among other things stated are the fol-
lowing:
The average California white wines are not
equal to the average red wines. They are little
sought for and extremely difficult to dispose of
unless they be of perfect quality. White wines
comprised only one-seventh of all the wines
conveyed to this corporation, and yet there is
demand for only half of this amount, which
seems enough to FIJI the present requirements
of the trade.
At this writing there is every indication of a
bountiful crop of white grapes. These con,
ditions, together with the fact that there will
be considerable carry-over stocks, lead US to
the conclusion that the price for white wine
will next year be less than that for red, and
our members are, therefore, warned against
the over production of this commodity.
Reports indicate that the 1895 vintage
should equal or slightly exceed the crop OF
1894, and the quality should be a great i'm
provement over the last, as the growing season
has been unusually favorable. Vineyards have
been better cared for because of the better
prices secured by the corporation. and it is
hoped that the improved quality of the 1895
wines will enable us to still further improve
prices
The present price of wine is the only reliable
basis on which computation can safely be
made, and grape-growers, who may be I'M
willing to accept this system of making prices.
should cast their lot with the winemaker and
have their grapes made up on shares. They
may accept such number of gallons per ton as
you can allow; or so much per ton for each
cent per gallon which the wine brings when
the next price is fixed, these figures varying to
suit local conditions. This system of fixing
prices is recommended as likely to prove most
satisfactory, it being especially agreed that all
wines made con shares" shall be transferred
to and ssld through this corporation.
The terms OF sale adopted in most districts
and the balance in six months, with cash dis
counts in accordance with the rates of interest
prevailing in the locality. This system is fair
and recommended. inasmuch as payments for
wine; though cash, are not received in full
by the wine-maker till twelve months have
elapsed from the time of winemaking.
In response to q general demand for a just
grading of wine, a system has been proposed
which, if adopted, will secure to the winemaker
a monetary reward for each degree of merit
alcohol, dry extract, color, bouquet, flavor or
low acid. This will insure satisfaction and
form an absolute classification, unique and
complete in itself, and one leaving no room for
dispute as to whether wine belongs to the
extra, the standard or the distilling class. This
should remain prominently in the minds OF
every winemaker throughout the vintage, as it
affords an additional compensation for every
improvement added to the wine and charges
him with every defect. 1t establishes beyond
dispute the value of shy bearing, hill and high
type grapes as compared with cold, heavy
producing, bottom lands, protecting alike the
buyer and seller of grapes and the buyer and
seller of wines.