Fraternity-Testvériség, 1958 (36. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1958-01-01 / 1. szám
FRATERNITY 5 circulated by the Society in 1859, started a wave of further grape plantings in several districts. It told of profits to be made from grape growing; the steps in selection, culture, harvesting; the ways of producing the main types of wine. Haraszthy, knowing the lack of care common at the time, went out of his way to emphasize the need of absolute cleanliness at every stage. Above all, he urged experimentation with various kinds of vines in different parts of the State, saying: “I would recommend all planters to get as many varieties as they can test, and compare the qualities on their own soil, and keep on cultivating those that thrive, bear the most and make the best wine. This is the surest method of getting results.” In his report, Haraszthy suggested that American consuls abroad collect annually vine-cuttings from all countries and that these be propagated and distributed through the United States for testing. “The expense to the Government”, he wrote, “would be a trifle in comparison with the immense benefit our citizens would derive from it, and it would save, in a few years, millions of dollars that are now sent to foreign countries for wine, brandy and raisins. California, with such aid, would not only produce as noble a wine as any country on the face of the globe, but it would export more dollars’ worth of wine, brandy and raisins than it now does of gold.” By the end of 1858 Haraszthy reported that he had, at Buena Vista, 165 varieties of foreign grape vines, counting those in his nursery as well as those in his vineyards. He offered hundreds of thousands of cuttings and rooted vines for sale. The orders were many. He started to cut more tunnels into the hillsides, and eventually built large winery buildings of stone. In the fall of 1858 he entered his vineyard in the annual State Fair competition. He won first prize. For a few years — until he tired of the game — there developed a rivalry between him and his neighbor, General Vallejo. Vallejo had won many prizes for fruits at San Francisco competitions, and of late had been taking prizes for wine. By 1858 he had engaged the wine-making services of a competent Frenchman, Dr. Victor Faure. Both proprietors entered wines in the State Fair of 1859. Vallejo took second prize; Haraszthy the first premium “for the best exhibit of wines, with reference to the number of varieties, vintages and quality.” The Colonel called one of his winning wines “Monise”; another “Tokay”, though it was neither the Tokay of Hungary nor the Tokay produced in California today. At the Sonoma County Fair of 1859 Vallejo exhibited the best red and white wines; Haraszthy, though representing the town of Sonoma as one of nine fair directors, did not compete. In 1860, at the county fair, the two shared top prizes; one of Haraszthy’s firsts was for brandy. Haraszthy had the honor of making the annual address at the 1860 county fair, held at Petaluma. He pleaded eloquently for the establishment of an Agriclutural School in California to conduct scientific experiments and teach farmers what they needed to know. Ignorance, he declared, was impeding wine growing. “How differently we should be situated”, he said, “if we had an Agricultural School, where a vineyard would be planted and
