Page:The Tourist's California by Wood, Ruth Kedzie.djvu/79

HOTELS RESTAURANTS CUISINE 57 habitant interested in one of California's great industries that he shall partake of as many dishes as possible in which the dried grape is a constituent part.

The Spanish city of Malaga gave to California the white Alexandria Muscat which, with the Muscatel Gordo, became most in favour as a raisin grape; many millions of pounds are annually dried in the sun of Fresno County alone.

Fine table grapes are grown in nearly every county of the State, all the varieties known to Europe and to North and South America being possible of cultivation. Certain northern districts grow best the Flaming Tokays. The Emperor Grape of one famous farm near Fresno develops bunches over a foot in length. Escondido in San Diego County boasts unequalled Muscatels.

The first grape-vines grown in California were brought from Spain by way of Mexico and planted by the friars in 1771. Three years later they began to make wine from the large variety which took the name "Mission." But the product was raw and alcoholic, the new soil not being adapted to the successful growing of these Spanish cuttings. Nevertheless the Missions, especially in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Santa Ana Valleys, continued to work the vineyards and at the vintage season the Indian boys bared their feet and trod out the juice in the wine vats.