National Network for Equitable Library Service

Authored by wine connoisseur John James DeFour, who established the first commercial vineyard in the United States, The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide is an amazingly thorough work on grape growing and wine making specifically adapted to the American climate and soil. Despite being published nearly 200 years ago in 1826, DeFour’s practices and recommendations are still being utilized and referenced today since little has changed in the wine-making industry. DeFour’s knowledge and understanding of the process were very far advanced compared with the technology available in his day. With extensive tips and information about grape selections, watering grapes, manure, soil fertility, barreling wine, and much more, The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide is truly a wine-making tome with as much relevance today as in the early 19th century. Of the importance of wine and grapes, DeFour states in the preface, “... show the consequence on the health, temperance and cheerfulness of the people generally in any country, where there is a sufficient supply of genuine wine, which is equal to the provision of bread stuff.” This edition of The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the Society is a research library documenting the lives of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The society collects, preserves and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection comprises approximately 1,100 volumes.