Alcohol in wine is derived from the natural grape sugars and any sugar enrichment. There have been several methods of measuring the alcohol content of a liquid and all require a representative, homogenous sample. The principal methods have included the use of a hydrometer, a refractometer, a chromatograph, the spectroscopy, or an ebulliometer.
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For eight years I have been providing research and writing articles about artifacts in the Wine History Project’s collection. My quest has been to engage you, the reader, in appreciating the history of these material objects. One can refer to them as physical objects, material possessions, artifacts, cultural material but ultimately in the hands of a historian they are known as material culture. Material culture provides access to the past as it was experienced. Every object has stories to reveal.
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California is a good place to find viticultural history. The wine artifacts of this state largely date from the late 18th to the mid-20th centuries and include cellar instruments, cooperage equipment, and field tools. These tools were either: used in the state; obtained by collectors in the state; originally purchased from national or international businesses by wineries or growers in this state; or, created by California residents.
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It has been over 100 years since the United States passed the National Prohibition Act. On September 18, 2020, we published an article on our website entitled “100th Anniversary of Prohibition in the United States.” Here are highlights for you to enjoy in our collection.
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Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the wine industry slowly set about rebuilding. Winemakers began to understand that clean, sterile environments were essential for the industry. Early efforts focused on stabilization.
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