The San Francisco call., 1907-01-25
AMERICAS WINES
ARE THE BEST
Figures Show the Enormous.
Growth of Industry in
the Last Twenty Years
CALIFORNIA IN LEAD

many VIII De surprised ana lliltIcohSu
10 learn OF the extent Of grape growing
and Wine making in the United States.
There are about 100000 acres OF vine
yards in this country. In the State Of
California alone there is a total Of
100000 acres planted to grapes New
York State comes next with about
$4,000 acres of vineyards. The total
invested in our vineyards wine cellars
and plants. machinery, warehouses and
stocks Of wines, etc, is put at over
$100,00O,00 says the Richmond, Va,
News Leader.
The great progress in wine and
champagne industry is another illus
tration of American enterprise. Most
Of this has taken place in the last
twenty years In that time the inn
portations of foreign wines have stood
still. while the output Of American
wines shows a steady increase OF 1,00O,-
600 gallons a year, or an increase of
90, ,000 900 gallons of wine in the last
twenty years Thus the official figures
show that twenty years ago. or in
1886. some 100000 gallons of foreign
wines were imported into this country.
Just about the same quantity OF wine
was imported last year On the other
hand, the production of American wines
was about 100000 gallons in 1886,
but in 1906 the output was about 40,-
000 600 gallons. In other words. eight
times as much American wine is pro-
duced and consumed in this country as
there is of foreign wines. Not only
that but our winemakers are reach
ing out and are now shipping their
wines TO South America India, China,
Japan. England and even to France
and Germany.
AMERICAN WINES THE BEST
The superior qualities of American
preciated, while, on account of their
known purity they are preferred to
the imported. There is no doubt that
our ordinary American wines are much
better than the ordinary wines from
Europe Our methods of winemakinS,
as the result OF American skill, are a
great Improvement over those abroad,
and our winemakers are much cleaner
and take greater pains and care in
making their wines than they do in
Europe We have in the United States
the choicest varieties of grapes, and
every kind of soil and climate, and
therefore II is no wonder our wine
makers can and do produce wines that
equal and rival the celebrated Vintages
OF the Old World. This has been recog-
nized by the highest awards and prizes
given TO American wines at all of the
recent eXpositions. even in Europe and
the United States.
1t is interesting to note the Increased
use and consumption of light table
wines IN this country. This is due to
the fact that many thousands of Amer
leans are gradually acquiring the habit
Of using wine at their tables; also our
large foreign population from wine
making countries takes kindly to wine
in preference to beer and whisky.
RECENT GROWTH
1t is less than fifty years ago since
the wine trade assumed such import
ance in the United States. In the year
1860 there were about ZOO acres Of
vineyards and several wine cellars in
the Ohio River Valley near Cincinnati
The father, or founder, OF the present
wine industry was Hon. Nicholas Long
worth of Cincinnati, Ohio, grandfather
of Congressman Longworth, who re-
Gently married the daughter of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. 1t may be noted that
IL was after visit TO the Longworth
wine cellar that the poet Longfellow
wrote his, well-known poem on Ca
tawba Wine"
From 1860 TO 1870 the wine industry
made great progress, especially in New
York, Northern Ohio. Missouri and in
California. From 1880 to 1890 there
III wineries in 1880 the number in
creased to 236 in 1890. The census of
1900 showed a total of 259 wine es-
tablishments for the United States.
According to the american Wine
Press" the average annual production
Of wine In the United States for the
past few years has been about $4,000
900 gallons. The yield in 1904-I9O5 was
as follows: Southern States, 1,50O, 1000:
New York. 5000. 600; Ohio, 3,5OO.0OO;
Western States. 1000, 1000; California,
rs, 600, 600; other States, ,o00, 600,
total of Ss.oOO,OOO gallons.
WINES AND wINEMAKERs
The principal grape and wine grow
ing States in order from South to North
and from East to West are: North
Carolina. Virginia. New Jersey, New
York. Ohio and California. A brief
notice of the wines made and of the
leading makers may be given.
The scuppernong grape is a popular
variety all through the South
Some of our best red and white
grapes grow in Virginia, as for ex-
ample, the Nortons (Va.) Ives Seeding,
Delaware. catawba and other varieties.
The headquarters of the grape and
wine industry in New Jersey are
around Egg Harbor.
The earliest vineyards in New York
State were planted in the Hudson River
Valley at WashingtonvilIe. Orange
county mere FIencn Nlntner. NJ.
Jacques. set out vines back in 1899. A
few OF the old vines are still growing.
but the business is now conducted by
the Brotherhood Wine Company. The
original stone cellar has been added TO
until the plant is one of the largest in
the country.
The American champagne Industry
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