Napa-Sonoma-Yuba County CA Archives Biographies.....Adamson, C. P. 1828 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 29, 2007, 2:30 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) C. P. ADAMSON.—There is no more beautiful spot to be found in the whole Napa Valley than the splendid vineyard of Mr. C. P. Adamson. It lies on the eastern edge of the valley, at a distance of about a mile from Rutherford, and possesses a location not excelled for depth and fertility of soil, beauty of situation, and convenience for carrying on the whole business. It is one of the older vine-growing and wine-making establishments of the county, having been begun as long ago as 1870 by Mr. Adamson, and each year since its wines were first placed in the market the superiority of its products has been more generally acknowledged. There are in all now 150 acres planted to vines, including all the most celebrated qualities of grapes that have been found adapted to this section. Among them are the Riesling, Golden Chasselas, Carpinnette, Carignane, Burgundy, Zinfandel, Grossblaue, etc. The vineyard consists of 150 acres, and presents a very tine appearance, being of thrifty and healthy growth, and so carefully attended that not a weed or spear of grass is visible. Situated in the midst of the vines, in a tract set off for its use, is the winery and wine cellars, which were found to be well worthy of a visit. The cellar is 120 x 115 feet in size, built of wood, double lined and ceiled, thus making it cooler and of better storage facility than even the ordinary stone cellar would be. Its capacity is 300,000 gallons, but usually contains only the vintage of the season, as Mr. Adamson never has any difficulty in effecting sales. He finds his market chiefly in San Francisco, but has built up a constantly increasing business in the East and Central States, one feature being specially noteworthy, namely, the shipping of church wine for communion purposes throughout the coast and elsewhere. We notice by the papers that he has lately been making sales also in Germany of his fine brandies. The grapes are carried from the vineyard to the second floor of the winery by elevator, which has an attachment below for cleaning the grapes. They go then to the crusher, whence the juice is conducted by ingenious gravity devices to any part required. The building is made self-supporting, the only one of its kind in the State, except Senator Stanford's winery at Vina. It has also a very late device for carrying tubs or material to any part, in the way of an elevated railroad or track. There is steam for pumping or other work, the power coming from the engine in the distillery behind the main building. An abundant supply of pure cold water is obtained by windmill and tanks, from wells sunk on the premises. The floor is entirely of stone, with drains for carrying off all water. There are two Heald's hydraulic presses, and also a St. Helena hydraulic press, representing both the pressure from below and from above, the former being much the better. There is also a bottling department connected with the establishment, to supply the constantly increasing demand for the wine in retail consumption. The distillery has a capacity of about 200 gallons per charge, the quantity of brandy made last year being about 12,000 gallons. So far the cooperage has been bought outside, but it is understood that the intention is to manufacture their own another year. In all about fifty men are employed, it being the wise custom of Mr. Adamson to keep the different nationalities apart in separate houses. In order to supply his large business he buys each year from $7,000 to $8,000 worth of choice grapes to add to his own. The residence is a handsome structure, beautifully surrounded by trees and flowers, and presents a fine appearance, commanding a fine view in every direction. A splendid orchard, the cherries being famous over the valley, is also one of the beauties of the place. Mr. Adamson is a man of unusual energy and force of character, and of an overflowing hospitality. He has made his own way from the beginning, often against serious odds, but always coming out head uppermost. He is a native of Germany, or rather of Holstein, now a part of Germany, but at the date of his birth a part of Denmark. In his younger days he went to sea, visiting many portions of the globe. In 1858 he came around the Horn in the clipper ship Gamecock, on a voyage from New York to San Francisco, the voyage lasting four months and fourteen days. He went almost directly from San Francisco to Sonoma, walking up from the embarcadero to Colonel (now General) Hooker's ranch at Glen Ellen, looking for work, and being well treated by him. After a short stay he went to Napa, where he was with W. A. Fisher for a year and a half. Thence he went to the mines on the Yuba River, and stayed for eighteen months. From there he went to El Dorado County and worked for six months, and then went to the Fraser River, where he had much trouble and suffering from Indians and hardships, as did most of those who followed that excitement. He then returned to Napa, and began farming in the Berryessa Valley and elsewhere, carrying on very extensive operations, having often as high as 2,000 or 3,000 acres of wheat. He bought, his present place in 1870, and while improving it continued his operations on rented land on the Welsh tract in Colusa, and on the New York grant in Contra Costa and other counties. He is a man of wonderful energy and power, has magnificent business qualities, and is as popular as any man in the county. Mr. John H. Riess is his foreman, a young man whom it is a pleasure to meet. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/napa/bios/adamson577gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.7 Kb