508 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



facture is rendered more secure. Thus certain musts are liable to 

 remain sweet for want of ferment. These are corrected by adding must 

 of different characteristics. This principle may be applied in various 

 ways, as when sugar, tannin, acid, or water may be in too large or too 

 small proportions, and it is particularly demanded to impart flavor when 

 required. 



It is convenient to have varieties with diverse epochs of maturity, in 

 order to prolong the vintage, and have the harvesting done gradually, 

 so as to avoid being pressed with an unwieldy force of laborers at one 

 time. This can be effected by planting such varieties as will ripen at 

 different periods. In Languedoc, whose climate more nearly resembles 

 that of California than the more notable wine districts of France, this 

 plan is systematically pursued, by planting one third which ripen in 

 September, one third ripening a fortnight later, and another third which 

 ripens still later. And here it may be remarked, en passant, that Cali- 

 fornia might have derived lessons of more practical value in viniculture 

 from Languedoc than she has from Germany and Northern France, 

 from whence we have chiefly derived our example and reproof, and it is 

 not improbable that her favorite grapes may be those best adapted to 

 our circumstances. Their vines like ours are planted comparatively far 

 apart, and are trained as we train, with, low stocks and short spurs. 

 Their yield is reported as enormous, in fact well nigh incredible — fifteen 

 hundred, two thousand, and even twenty-five hundred gallons to the 

 acre. Flagg, in his work on European vineyards, mentions one proprie- 

 tor (M. Mares) as making, from two hundred and fifty acres, three hun- 

 dred and seventy-five thousand gallons of wine. This would be at the 

 rate of fifteen hundred gallons to the acre. 



The names of the varieties best known among us we propose to give, 

 with a reference necessarily brief to their characteristics, and then 

 select from them those regarded as entitled to our confidence and 

 adapted to circumstances now existing in California. The Mission, or 

 California, claims the first notice as the earliest known and most widely 

 cultivated. Many still think it the most profitable grape. This opinion 

 is less common every year, and will probably soon cease to be enter- 

 tained at all. It is claimed for the Mission that it is of hardy growth, 

 exempt from disease and accidents; that it makes good, sound, well- 

 keeping wine; and in consequence of its large supply of sugar yields 

 abundantly of spirit. This may all be true, and yet there are other 

 varieties possessing all these qualities, and, with the exception of its 

 spirit capacity, possess them in a more eminent degree. It Avill scarcely 

 be denied that it has some positive objections. The proportion of sugar 

 is too large to that of tartaric acid to make an entirely acceptable wine. 

 This saccharine excess is liable to suspend fermentation at a slightly 

 reduced temperature. The absence of an agreeable flavor is conspicuous. 

 Its red wine is not in popular favor, nor does its dry white wine ever 

 allow an excellence to exalt our State in wine product to a level of 

 France and Germany. Yet those having vine}*ards largely planted in 

 Mission grapes need have no regret on that account. It is an admirable 

 adjunct to other grapes, to commingle their merits. Possessing in a 

 large measure sugar, the most essential ingredient in wine, we may get 

 aroma from one and tartness from another to supply its deficiencies 

 in these qualities. 



Black Malvoisie, the grape known as Pino, and by other synonyms 

 (for our vinicultural nomenclature is eminently confusing), is entitled to 

 rank among the highest of our wine grapes. It possesses all the good 



