Proceedings of, the Fabmers^ Club. 449 



American CnAiiPAGifE. 



A case of cliampagne from Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., 

 was opened and given out by J. B. Ljman. A committee of twelve 

 was appointed and instructed to test each a quart bottle and report 

 next week upon the flavor and other qualities of the wine. The fol- ' 

 lowing paper was prepared by a friend of the gentleman who sends 

 this champagne, and read by Mr, Lyman : 



The sample of wine furnished is from Messrs. Ryckman, Day & 

 Co., Brocton, Chautauqua county, N, T. Brocton, at the present 

 time, is becoming one of the most important centers of grape culture 

 and wine manufacture in the country. It is situated on the Buffalo 

 and Erie road, eight miles from Dunkirk, and at the junction of the 

 Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburg railroad. The first vineyard was 

 planted upon the shores of the lake in that region forty-four years 

 ago, with a few Isabella and a few Catawba vines, and the original 

 vines are still in successful bearing. The uniform success which 

 attended the raising of grapes in the original vineyard led others, 

 twenty years since, to undertake the culture, and from year to year 

 the amount of land devoted to the planting of \'ines has been 

 increasing. At the present time, -between Fredonia on the east and 

 "VYeitfield on the west, a distance of fifteen miles, there are probably 

 over a thousand acres of vines in bearing, and as much more planted 

 which will be in bearing in a year or two. The great majority of 

 vineyards are planted with the Isabella grape. The Catawba forms 

 the greater portion of the residue, though the Delaware has, within, 

 the past three years, been extensively planted, and now the lona is 

 becoming a marked favorite for wine. The Clinton is also increasing 

 in favor every year by reason of its value in the manufacture of red 

 Avines. The success which attends the culture of the grape in Chau- 

 tauqua county is to be ascribed to the proximity of the vineyards to 

 the lake, the atmosphere of which makes the climate more equable, 

 keeps back vegetation in the spring and early Irosts in the fall, so 

 that the frost seldom interferes with the maturing of the fruit. 

 The manufacture of wine at Brocton was commenced several 

 years since by the Hon. J. B. Fay, and was successfully pursued 

 until the organization of the Lake Shore Wine Company, which 

 erected large buildings and cellars for the manufacture of wine 

 on an extensive scale and succeeded Mr. Fay in his operations. 

 Messrs, Ryckman, Day & Co., are the lessees of fl^e property 



[Inst.] 29 



