KALM ON WINE MAKING

A North American continuing tradition

Already short after his arrival to North America in mid September 1748, Pehr Kalm paid attention to Pennsylvania’s traditions for cultivation of wine, produced from grapes as well as red or black currants, wild strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries etc. From Germantown for example, he wrote in his travel journal on September 22nd; "The ladies make wine from some of the fruits of the land. They principally take white and red currants for that purpose, since the shrubs of this kind are very plentiful in the gardens, and succeed very well. An old sailor who had frequently been in Newfoundland, told me that red currants grew wild in that country in great quantity. They likewise make a wine of strawberries, which grow in great plenty in the woods, but are sourer than the Swedish ones. The American blackberries, or Rubus occidentalis, are likewise made use of for this purpose, for they grow every where about the fields, almost as abundantly as thistles in Sweden, and have a very agreeable taste. In Maryland a wine is made of the wild grapes, which grow in the woods of that province. Raspberries and cherries which are planted on purpose, and taken great care of, likewise afford a very fine wine."

The tradition to cultivate grapes in Pennsylvania at least dates back to the late 17th century, while it’s known that William Penn planted grapes in the area in 1683. So, the local custom to make wine from wild berries and fruit must date even further back. Kalm also on several occasions noted various expenses for wine in the "Travel Account", particularly interesting are several posts about the purchase of wine for his regular visitors and guests. One such example dates from January 3rd in Philadelphia 1750; ”Wine to give to them who now and then paid me a visit, which here is customary, for 2Sh. 6d.” Pennsylvania, New York and several other neighbouring states’ long wine cultivation traditions of grapes as well as other berries and fruit, is still today a continuing tradition.