The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-27
MADE m GERMANY
WINE PLENTIFUL
This Year viii Be Remark
able for Production of
Wine Crop.

BERLIN. Aug. 21.-CCorrespond-
ence OF The Associated Pressl-Cn-
less the !ate summer and autumn
bring some extraordinarily IntaVor'
able weather. the year 1915 promises
10 be remarkable for the production
OF German wines. No: for twenty
years nave the prospects along the
Rhine. Moselle, aad Saar been SO
glowing. ard II looks as II the
"l9l5er" VII cone TO dispute hon
ors with the famous "1S93er. the
best vintage Germany has had II
many a decade.
The 1911 vintage was much ABOVE
the average. but With this exception
the years since 1898 have been called
Thin and acidulous. Wines OF the
1911 vintage are naturally scarce n
dear, so it is high time il he inter
ests Of both the wine growers and
wine lovers. that another banner YIN
rage should come along.
The long drouth this year IN Ger
many was particularly favorable for
the v~ineyardists. The dryness n
high Temperatures not only turthered
the development OF The grapes but al
80 presented conditions highly unfav'
orable to the Development Of b va,
rious diseases and insect enemies Oh
the vine. The latter circumstances
we're particularly fortunate this year
in view Of the reduced force OF laoor'
ers available for the care OF the
vineyards.
Al this writing the crop is nearly
a month further advanced than orol'
nariiy. Hence. when the grapes De
come ripe and the police oniclallE
close the vineyards. even against
treir owners. to prevent gathering De.
fore the crop becomes "edelreil
1iterallv) "noble-rlpe." the berries
will have a much longer troSt-lfee
period than usual Ii which TO deyelop
those qualities necessary lor nieh
grade wines. One result will be tnat
h 1915 vtnetage will produce an
unusually high percentage OF so-cailed
mature wines" that is. ines 10
which no sugar needs be added
Not only does the quality promise
70 be the best since 1898. but the
quantity will be equally SATISFACTORY
For the gathering OF this bumper
crop there are fortunately aValiaDie
thousands Of war prisoners rom tne
wine districts Of France, skilled helE
offering a complete substitute tor tne
German laborerS at the front.
The war has caused much less DIS
+nrbarce Of conditions in the wine
.rode man might have been expect
cd In the first few weeks the con
sumption fell of greatly. but coma
tions rapidly improved and many o.
h leading wine dealers declare ina
they are doing as large a BUSINESS az
In normal years. In only q re
spect T conditions changed. u
tbe wine drinkers are drinking az
much wine as usual, they are drink
ine cheaper brands. The result Is
that the ~so-called small wines" are
growing scarce. There IS sui a a
amount Of Bordeaux on hand, but Inc
cheaper Rhines and Moselles are neal
exhaustion. and the German rec
wines are practically all gone. AS a
result, the prices of these cheaper
wines are just now beginning o rise
OF the better grade wines, however
there is no lack and the prices have
not been raised. This Is particularly
true OF Bordeaux, of which. according
to competent authorities. Germany
possesses an adequate supply for al
least " years. There are also large
supplies Of port on hand. Compare
lively little Italian wine is trunk II
Germany. Its lack this year will be
chiefly felt in Austria and in certain
districts Of Southern Germany. which
ordinarily imported considerable guam
titles Of Italian clarets for mixing
with domestic wines. In view. how
ever. of the promised big domestic
yield. the want OF these imported
wines will not be so seriously felt as
would be the case in an average year.