WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 213 



over rough roads, it will be found advantageous to have two 

 oblong vats, four feet high, made of good redwood, and to 

 fit on an ordinary wagon, into which the boxes can be emptied. 

 This will prevent leakage, and the juice which runs out and 

 is wasted, is generally the best ; the grapes can be pitched 

 with forks on to the elevator at the winery, and thus save it 

 all. 



The number of pickers to be engaged, depends altogether 

 on the quantity to be worked up each day. A man can pick 

 and carry from 25 to 50 boxes, say at an average, a ton a 

 day, which will vary with the varieties of grapes, whether 

 large or small bunches, etc. What is picked in one day, 

 should fill at least one vat or cask when pressed, and be 

 crushed the same evening or day. The grapes should also not 

 be too warm; if the temperature rises to 95 or 100 as it some- 

 times does for a few days, they should be allowed to cool dur- 

 ing the night, if necessary ; and worked up in the morning. 

 Of this I shall treat more fully in " Making the Wine." 



It will become necessary sometimes, when the grapes do- 

 not ripen evenly, from the influence of frosts or other causes, 

 to pick several times, taking only the bunches that are fully 

 ripe. Pickers should be closely instructed and watched in 

 this respect, so that only evenly ripened grapes, which 

 alone can make a good wine, are taken. They should also 

 be instructed to pick out all decayed or rotten berries, as well 

 as those affected by mildew and Red Leaf. All of these are 

 apt to introduce the germs of disease into the wine. Sound, 

 finely flavored wine can only be made from perfectly sound 

 grapes, -well ripened; and any negligence of this kind will 

 retaliate on the wine maker. 



It will sometimes be found desirable to blend several 

 varieties, and when they ripen at the same time it is best to 

 blend by gathering at same time and mixing in the fermenting 

 vat. For instance, the Chasselas Fontainebleau (Gutedel) 



