The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-02

Western states. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5000
Total Observation-Disclosures. ....Sz ioo,VV
The United States stands sixth OF
seventh, and follows Switzerland as a
wine-producing country.
In Southern California the making OF
wine and brandy was carried on at an
early date. Altogether apart from the
crude product of the old missions the
manufacture was carried on quite ex-
tensively as early as 1856. The Wolfskill
orchard, now obliterated by the city, in
that year contained $4,000 vines, cover
ing As acres. The average yield was
10 to IL pounds to the vine. A red wine
nearly allied to port was made at the
Wolfskill home, and the previous year
60 eighteen gallon barrels of brandy had
been distilled, worth $50 barrel.
The Sansevain brothers had at that
it containing $4,000 vines. Wine and
brandy were made in plenty, and the
subcommittee of the State Agricultural
society. visiting the vineyard in 1856. re-
ported: Their white wine is of super
ior quality, and as it is the pure juice of
the grape is more palatable than the
spurious wines of the shops.
AS commercial possibility the wine
industry had its first impulse in Sonoma
county, the wine output for 1866 being
given at over 100000 gallons. Apart
from the mistakes in planting and man.
ufacture, inevitable by new men in a
new country. the industry was for a
long time carried on upon the false basis
of the expectation of high prices. Then
came the phylloxera and a period of de-
preston, which has now given place to
a better condition owing to resistant
stocks. better knowledge. and increas-
ing taste for wine among the people, and
the better reputation of California vint-
ages.
In 1886 there was a shortage in the
vintage, but that in 1897 was most boun-
teous, roughly estimated at $4,000. 600
gallons. This amount. with 10000, 900 to
II, 600, 900 gallons of 1896 and older wines,
will supply the demand of this year.
which is estimated to be about $4,000. 900
gallons, and the 1897 vintage will have
to furnish 1000, 900 or 5000, 900 gallons to
supply the deficit expected in 1898. The
status then is: A probably light vint-
age this year and a good demand for
1897 wines to consume in 1899.
In Southern California the leading
wine and brandy producing sections are
in the San Gabriel Valley, around Ana
helm in Orange county, and in San Ber
nardino county. The L. j. Rose Co. Ltd,
f. j. Baldwin's at Santa Anita, the Shorb
station, and Guasti's in Los Angeles are
the largest wineries in the south, the last
named having a capacity of 100000 gall
Ions. From these wineries are exported
large quantities of wines-port, sher-
ry, muscatel, red and white wines-and
brandy, which have national reputa-
lions.
In the United States the per capita
consumption of wines increased until
four years ago, since which time 1t has
shown a decline. In 1895 the consumption
was rs gallons per capita, and in 1896
had sunk to 26. These figures cannot
carry much comfort to the heart of the
Prohibitionist, however, for this de-
cline took. place during a series of years
when the business of the country was
depressed, and was common to distilled
spirits, malt liquors-and also tea and
coffee. Friends of true temperance re-
gard the increased normal appreciation
of wines as a most encouraging sign, re-
membering that in the wine districts of
France, Italy and Spain. where the per
capita consumption is 1926 gallons, in
toxication is practically unknown. In a
recent governmental return it was
shown that with the importation of the
heavy British and German beers and
distilled spirits into France a marked in
crease in cases of inebriety had been
noted in the cities where these liquors
had to some extent become the vogue.