Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-20
A WINEMAKER FROM SPAIN.
From Vintages Of AndaIusia He Brings
the Rarest Sberrv in the World,

the hareSt Sherfy IN the WORLD
Los Angeles Times: There is at present
at the Van Mugs hotel one of the most
unique and interesting guests who has
tarried at the hosiery of many travellers
of many n~ationalties for some time.
He is Luis de Castro-Palomino, Is a
cousin of the Duke of Almodovar, the
present minister of state of Spain, and Is
a member of the famous wine house Of
Spain, the firm Of Pedro Domecq, founded
In 1890, In the celebrated sherry district OF
Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusla, with
Cadiz as It's seaport.
In fact, the member Of the house OF
Domecq explained while sitting in his
apartments amid treasured little bottles
from the choicest vintages Of southern
Spain, the word sherry is nothing more
nor less than an English corruption OF
"XereZ," as Jerez was written In oldcn
times. When the present sherry was
sent to England, the great wine market,
from the Domecq vineyards in "Xerez' de
la Frontera, the clumsy English tongue
soon fell to saying sherry wine for
"XereZ wine"
Mr.. Castro is In California to spend some
time looking into the wine industry of the
state, TO size it up" from q professional
standpoint, ascertain how far the science
Of wine making has progressed here In
New Spain, and to see what, If any, COM
petition may be expected in Europe from
his coast.
The old house of Domecq produces moth
ing but sherry wines, and Mr.. Castro
has with him a cherished sample from the
famous NAPOLEON vintage, the first pro-
duced by the firm, in 1880; one OF the most
wonderful wines cXtant. as black as a
shoe, heavy and naturally Of the 'rarest
flavor.
Of this ancient vintage, until Mr.. cas-
go $3.50 = - Il 41aAA wLanlG ngrn n ~
disposed OF a butt Of K TO a New Yorker
for what is said to have been the most
fabulous price ever paid for wine In this
country, only three casks had ever been
sold, one to Napoleon L., when he was en-
peror of France: one to the Duke of Ham
ilton of England, and another to a wealthy
retired dealer Of England named Nisbet,
the price paid per cask being G1,CC0.
The vintage received it's name, "Napole-
on" from Marshal Soult of the Little
Corporate army. who visited the wine
ries at JereZ de la Frontera during the Pen
insular wars in 1908, and upon tasting of
the old wine wrote in chalk across the
end of the butt from which 1t was drawn
the word Napoleon" as the highest
mark of appreciation which he could be-
stow Only five butts now remain of the
entire vintage, and are kept as souvenirs
of the founding of the firm.
The full history of the vintage Is pub
lished in an old book dealing with historic
wines. a copy of which Mr.. Castro was
surprised TO find in the possession OF a
gentleman of Cincinnati, and from which
he made a typewriter extract. In 1874
the house OF Domecq was granted perml5-
sion TO use as it's mark the royal coat oil
arms of Spain.
"Of course" said he, speaking OF the
wines of California, 1.-THE industry is onl!
a., infant bera as vet. and as far az | have
. been able to Judge, has great room for i'm.
provement as compared with that OF Eu'
| rope, where wines have been made for sc
long. In light wines California Is well tC
the front, and seems 10 be improving al
the time"