WINE-MA KING IN CALIFORNIA. 



it is somewhat sheltered from wind. Vine a strong, up- 

 right grower, with grayish, short jointed wood. Leaf large 

 and heavy, lobed; bright green above, paler green below, 

 covered with fine hairs or wool, young points tomentose or 

 wooly, whitish. Bunch long and loose, somewhat shouldered, 

 stems of berries very long, berry oblong, yellowish white, 

 full medium, transparent, skin thin; juice sweet and aromatic, 

 but also with a lively acid. Ripens somewhat late, about 

 first week in October. 



Among the most promising varieties of that classs, now 

 under trial, are Mantuo de Pilas, Mourisco Blanco, etc. 

 All this is as yet experimental, and needs further development. 



RED WINE VARIETIES. 



Here again, we do not suffer from scarcity of varieties, but 

 in fact there are so many that it is very difficult to choose from 

 them. I shall therefore confine myself mostly to those whiqh 

 are well proven to succeed in this State, and give a list of 

 untried but promising varieties afterwards. Let us not for- 

 get, however, that the high character of a red wine depends 

 largely, if not altogether, on the soil which produces it. It 

 is useless to plant a red wine grape on sandy soil, lacking in the 

 minerals, the substance that will alone produce color, tannin, 

 and also that fine flavor which a good claret or burgundy 

 should have, to compete successfully with the best brands of 

 Europe. I have already given the leading ideas in Chapter 

 I, the reasons which lead me to believe that we already have 

 an over production of vin ordinaire, of the common grades 

 of red or cargo wines; let us not add more to them, but be 

 careful where and what we plant. A high grade wine costs 

 no more for casks and. making, and it is even handled easier 

 in the cellar, and with less labor than a common one. It 

 costs no more freight or casks to ship it, yet it will bring 

 double and treble the "price, and what is more, will increase 

 the demand and build up the reputation of the State and the 



