1914 Beverages de luxe

tively higli sugar and low acid point. princiiial counties are Yolo, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, covering the great Sacramento and San .loaquin Val- leys, and Sail liernardino County. As compared with the immense output of France and Italy, our annual production of about 45,OO0,(K)O gallons is small, but it must not be forgotten that it has taken those two European countries nearly 2,000 years to plant their extensive vineyards and create a world-wide market for their wines. Pliny, who is so rich in precious information on the agricultural and social advances in Italy, tells us that Italy opened her hills and plains to the triumphal entrance to the god Dionysus about 120 years B. C, and the cultivation of the grape has gone on uninterrui^ted- ly ever since. Every generation has jioured forth new cai)ital to enlarge its inheritance of vineyards. The vine was introduced into France by the conquering Roman legions and practically the same conditions as in Italy prevail there, only that a small area of the north of France does not produce grapes, while in Italy there is practicallx' no section where grapes are not grown and wine made. The cultivation of the vine in Germany, whicli covers a comparatively small acreage when compared with Italy and France, ccjmmenced after the death of the Roman Emperor. Marcus Aurelius Probus. He reigned from 27G to 282 A. I)., and directed much of his attention to clearing Gaul of the Ger- mans. For over eighteen centuries, therefore, the Germans have also been cultivating their hillside \'ineyards and winning fame with their fine white wines. The viticultural industry in California, on the othej- hand, is really only half a century old, although the Franciscan Fathers planted the grapevine in California shortly after their arrival at San Diego, in 17()!). As the other missions were established, small tracts were planted close around their houses of worshi}). The Padres guarded them jealously with high adobe walls, culti- vated the x'ines carefully, gathered their fruit, and made wine, which was used in their religious ceremonies, or consumed by the good Fathers, their occasional visitors and their immediate retainers. Soon after the cession of California to the United States, some of the new settlers, .seeing the fertility of the Mission grape, conceived the idea of abandoning gold hunting and en- gaging in the business of winemaking. Coar.se, heavy wines were made from the Mission grapes and when they were tasted by discriminating wine drinkers, it was predicted that California would never be able to turn out Wine that would be acceptable to people used to the foreign brands. 'I'lie