PREFACE. VII 



the benefactors of mankind; I am proud of the privilege of 

 being her correspondent, and thus acknowledging her noble 

 efforts in our cause. 



This work was commenced in June, when the greatest 

 rush of vineyard work was over, written in my cabin in 

 Chiles Valley, surrounded by vines, where practical reference 

 could be had every day and hour to the operations necessary 

 among them. As it progressed, I became convinced more 

 and more of the magnitude of the subject, and the impossibil- 

 ity of doing it full justice in the space of a few months^, and a 

 few hundred pages. I hoped to complete it before the vin- 

 tage, so that it could be of some use perhaps during its pro- 

 gress. But unavoidable delays have drawn it out to the end 

 of the vintage, of this truly abnormal year, abnormal in its 

 late and destructive frosts, its hot winds during summer, caus- 

 ing a great deal of coulure and its unusually hot weather 

 during the vintage. It has been one of the most difficult 

 seasons to handle a vineyard and wine cellar, which will ever 

 occur here, I trust, and has taught us many and severe les- 

 sons, among others the importance of thoughtful pruning, 

 close attention to the growing crop, and diversity of varieties in 

 time of ripening, so that we are not compelled to crowd the 

 operations of months into a few weeks ; also the necessity of 

 commencing the vintage as soon as the grapes are fairly ripe ; 

 and of unceasing work during wine making. Vintage work 

 commenced in Napa Valley about the middle of September, 

 when it ought to have commenced a week sooner, and the 

 hot and dry weather prevailing during its entire period even 

 until now, ripened and dried up the grapes to a certain extent 

 and thus fermentation became very difficult, especially in 

 large establishments. I have availed myself of these practical 

 lessons, I hope to the advantage of my readers, so that the 

 delay may not be a loss altogether. Still, I am aware that it 

 is impossible to do the subject full justice, and am far from 



