The Washington times., 1923-08-29
FLOOD Of WINE
BEING MADE
IN D. {.
Industry Is Popular One With
ItaIfans-CeIIars of Rich
Residents Used.


titles Of fruit juice wines have been
made by winemakers in the cellars
Of Washington's social set. The
industry. It is said, has extended
even into the homes Of members OF
the diplomatic corps. In fact 1t is
now understood that the idea Of
making wines in the home, employ
ing the services of the professional
winemaker, originated among mem-
bers of the latter set who first
called the attention of their social
friends to its possibilities.
More than fifty winefhakers are
residents Of Washington, 1t is de-
clared, many of them coming here
within the past six months as the
demand for their services increased.
Among them are number OF men
who formerly operated vineyards
and wine presses In New Jersey
To Increase Activity.
I'VE certainly will take advantage
Of former Attorney General Palm.
er's ruling that it is not a viola
ton OF the Volstead act to make
wine for family use on private
property" said one Of the leaders,
among the winemakers. I'VE have
always contended we were within
the law for that was the inforra'
ton given US by our lawyers when
we were compelled to give up our
vineyards and wine presses.
'Pete," said my lawyer, you can
make all the wine you want to u
you drink It yourself or 1t is con-
sumed by members OF your own
family at the family home.
AZ asked him IL ! could make
wine for private use In other
peoples homes and he said could.
All that is necessary, he told me
Is that It Is not made for sale.
I do not sell wine. What sell is
my professional service. When the
president of bank wants fifty
gallons Of wine made I can tell to
within a few hours Of the time IT
will take and how much time VIII
have to devote to the work.
figure am an expert and charge
expert rates for my time. never
figure 1t costs him so much a gal
lon. Say it will take me thirty
hours of time to produce fifty gal
Ions Of wine. / consider my time
worth SIS an hour. That makes
his bill $3.50. He must also pay for
the fruit from which the juice Is
extracted. That I insist he buy
and have ready for me. / tell him
what to get and will go with him to
select It, for there is nothing illegal
In doing that.
After the Juice is in the tubs
and everything is ready go ahead.
khA two N
juice through the strainers doing
It is bottled wine ell fixed UP ready
for the winecellar.
will Sell Him Kegs.
"If the man wants it Kept IN kegs
and left to age 1 will sell him the
kegs or barrels and see that they
are racked up right. After that 1t
is up to him to see that the stock is
properly cared for. If he knows
how to do that he can have as fine
wine in six months as any he
ever drank.
How many winemakers do you
know of in the city,"
''Well I know most of them and
guess there are more than fifty here
now" said Pete. "a number of
them came here in June. Some came
from California, but most of them
came over from Jersey. They are all
busy around here"
Brandies are not made by the wine
makers. They confine their work
to producing only fruit wines which
require no distilling. Alcohol is
never handled by them. According
TO the winemakers the fruit juices
on the market carry preservatives
which make them worthless for
winemaking purposes.
Won't DO DistilIing.
Most Of them will ferment If left
exposed to the air in time" said
Pete, but the process is long and
that makes 1t too expensive Be-
sides they do not produce wine then
but q raw drink that should be dis,
titled. Distilling 1 never do and
neither will the other Winemakers
We are satisfied to make a table
wine that is suitable for family use.
1t is just the kind Of wine that
should be permitted under the law,
Tor 1t is not injurious. You could get
drunk on 1t OF course, but YOU must
drink lots to do that.
Visitors used to get drunk lust
listing my wine cellars and Shaving
in them long enough, and thew did
not get anything to drink. either.
The trick in winemaking, to nro.
duce a healthy wine, is to free it
Of the sugar. Most new wines are
we'll loaded with it, and that is
what causes people to get sick
when they drink too much at a
time. You can do the same thing
by just drinking water loaded with
sugar. Your stomach will not
stand it,"
Among the wines being made in
private cellars are included all OF
the well-known Recommendation
GRADES. One thing claimed for
hem is that they are unadulterated.
as many of the old wines were
when sold through wholesale wine
merchants.
Wine To Come Back.
Wine will come back I am sure.
In fact it Is back now and back
to stay. Now only the rich can
have 1t. A poor man or a family in
moderate circumstances cannot af-
ford to pay me from $500 to $500
to put up their years supply of
wine besides spending as much more
for the select fruits needed.