Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
Q2022.21.38Scope and Content
A two-page copy of a letter, on onion skin paper, from Wilbur P. McDonald, M. D. to Mr. Emil Wepprich, St. Charles, Mo., dated March 30, 1962. The letters COPY are printed in red ink down the left hand side of the both pages.Context
Dear Mr. Wepprich:
As holder of the No. 1 domestic wine license in the state of Missouri, I thought you might be kind enough to give a newcomer to the game a few pointers, as I hold license No. 2. In the past 7 years I have become interested in the growing of grapes for wine making here in Northwest Missouri and in spite of much effort, my success to date has been very limited.
It has been my purpose to grow some of the French Hybrid wine grapes on this patch of Loess soil, . . . in one section of the Rhine Valley in Germany. I have planted . . . . along with such American grapes . . . The only survivors to date are the Fredonia, which are doing well; the Ontario . . . reasonably well; Baco #1 . . very vigorous but has a small set; Seibel . . not so vigorous; Seyve-Villiard which is rather puney.
Up to now I did not have adequate space for a vineyard and the above grapes were planted along a fence having to compete with trees and other plantings. As of this spring I have obtained adjacent land and intend to put in a small vineyard . . . interested in obtaining grapes for this purpose. Do you know where I can obtain such grapes as Cynthiana . . . and the Missouri Riesling that were grown extensively around Herman, Mo. years ago? Also the Elvira . . . northwest Missouri. I would also like to obtain plantings of the Iona, Hector, Dunkirk, Catawba and Augustine . . . as well as Lenoir and the Cleota . . .
If you have any experience with these grapes and the resulting wine, or any other information on the subject I would be more than pleased to have it.
This past fall I was able to obtain sufficient grapes to make a 5 gallon varietal batches of Ravat 262 and Couderc 7120. The Ravat has a good deep color . . . but the body is lacking; the aroma being more like a fresh cut apple . . .
The Couderc is similar, a little less depth of color, and with the same aroma. . . . . A five gallon batch of white wine from the Seyve Villiard 5-276 did not get off to a good fermentation . . . having failed to fall clear to the present sate. I don't quite know what to do with it.
These are my problems Mr. Wepprich and it there is any information you can give, I certainly would appreciate it.
Sincerely,
P. S. A Dr. Michael Wepprich was in the Missouri University Medical School with me the first two years of our medical training. I believe he is now practicing in Washington, Mo. Could this be any relation?Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
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LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
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Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Notes
8.5" x 11"
