The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19

of them all, for in that country there are
billions OF gallons of wine produced annu-
ally. The variety which that country for
the most part makes is red and white. Its
finest wine Is what is technically known
as sauterne; IT is also noted for it's claret
and burgundy. The wines that Spain pro-
duces are quite different, owing principally
to the climatic conditions. The grapes
there contain more of certain substances
which produce the sherry wine, port, mala-
ga and others. Germany, in its green valleys
and on its rolling hillsides, along the rivers.
produces table wines that are hard to equal.
The varieties that come from here are gen.
orally referred to as Rhine wine. Of
course, there are a number of different
brands imported from there, but they are
all of the Rhine variety. 1 have been in
that country myself, and the healthfulness
of the wines tina are imported from there
can well be attested by the splendid ply
siques and general good health Of the in
habitants of those parts where the vino
yards are most numerous. In those places
an apothecary shop is seldom known. To
these people wine is not alone a drink, but
it is also their food. They virtually live
upon it. The water there is not of good
quality, and these natives drink the fer
mented juice of the grape instead. About
all they eat for their meals is bread and
wine, so that the men acquire all of their
strength from it and the women all of their
buxomness, for which they are noted, from
the same source.
NOT ALL IN AGE.
"It is the general impression among peo-
pie that, if a wine is well aged, no matter
from what kind of grapes it is made. it is
of fine quality. Now. l van to say that
in this they deceive themselves. for If the
wine is not of select vintage, no matter 10
what age it may be kept. it will never have
the same flavor or be of as fine a quality
as that which comes from very select
grapes In Germany very often when there
is an extra fine crop all of the grapes are
gathered by hand and none but those Of
the very best quality are permitted to be
used in the wine that is produced. Not a
grape that Is the least soft or bruised can
be used, and the wine that is made from
such fruit is of a very select quality. 1t is
understood, of course. that such crops Of
grapes are not raised annually, because
certain conditions of the climate and soil
will not permit it. The crops that come
between these extra fine ones make just
the average wine.
There is a peculiar thing" Mr.. Snewind
went on to say, about wine produced from
a pure quality of grape juice. This wine
seems to be practically a living object, and
at times 1t will become sick and we'll. At
such times when it is indisposed it requires
treatment much the same as any other
organic object. In the spring of the year
when grape vines first begin to bear fruit
the wine becomes sick. A sediment forms
in it that is similar to a flower growing,
and If this is not removed at once and the
wine put through a certain process to kill
all of this living matter the entire guam
tity will be lost. Very often it so happens
when wine gets too old it will lose all of its
fine flavor and become practically of no
value After it has lain in casks and been
kept to the right age and bottled 1t will
sometimes become bottle sick.
There is a wine that is native of South
Carolina which is made from a grape that
grows in clusters similar to cherries. In
stead Of these grapes being gathered as is
generally done they are shaken to the
ground like any other fruit. This peculiar
grape had been known in that section of
the country for years and had never been
found fit for anything; until some of the
inhabitants conceived the idea that it
would make good wine. The wine that
comes from these grapes has a very pecu-
liar flavor. being between the sweet and
sour, and is a most fascinating drink. This
marsha wine, as 1t is called, has become
very popular and Is sold everywhere In the
United States. 1t has in the last few years
become one of the ~best-known domestic
wines"
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION.
When asked what grapes made the best
wines Mr.. Snewind said: THAT question
would be impossible to answer and would
take the study of more than a lifetime to
find out. The only reason that the grape
growers of this country are so successful
is that they are deriving the benefit from
the study of this subject that has been
going on for the last 1,5Oo years. Grape
growing is one Of the oldest industries
there is. for in ancient history we read of
the people who raised grapes for the pur-
pose of making wine. This business was
also carried on to a great extent during
the time of julius Caesar, so that IL can
easily be seen that it has taken centuries
of work to bring the wine industry IN "a
its present standard. The grape growers
of this country have imported vines from
all over Europe, and find that the climate
and soil here is very well suited for the
production of all varities of grapes. How
ever, In Europe they consume more wine
than in this country. Take France for
instance; probably there is more wine con-
sumed there than anywhere i'm the world,
and next to that country no doubt comes
Italy.
II nave often noticed that when opera
companies come to the city that have
French and Italian singers with them
one of the first places they go to after the
hotel is a wine house, where they will pur-
chase a good quantity of the very bes,
wines. There were a couple of Italian
singers here not long ago filling an engage
ment with a band at one of the parks
These people came in every day while in
the city and bought a gallon of sour wine
which they claimed they could not ge,
along without. They said that they ate
no heavy meals at all, but had nsht
lunches in their room several times dur.
ing the day and at these lunches instead
of drinking tea or coffee they drank wine
Where the average American makes his
mistake in drinking wine is that he likes
the sweet v~arities, which contain too much
sugar. The taste for the dry, or sour wine
as it is more commonly known. has 10 b;
acquired with him, where in the case OF
the old wine drinker. who drinks NOT only