The American Vine-dresser’s Guide: Cultivation of the Vine and the Process of Wine Making in the United States

The American Vine-Dresser’s Guide, by Jean Jacques (John James) Dufour is a treatise on growing grapes in America, specifically the eastern half of the country. This early work, first published in 1826, is an amazingly through text on grape growing and wine making. Dufour’s keen sense of observation gave him an understanding of grape growing comparable to many “”experts”” of today, without the benefit of the modern sciences of biology, plant physiology, plant pathology, soil fertility, and so on. Despite the fact that the book was written nearly 200 years ago, many of the practices recommended are still applicable in the modern vineyard. Dufour’s detailed recommendations on vineyard management make the reader realize that very little has changed in grape growing technology over the past 200 years. Many topics are covered in detail that would be appropriate for today’s growers along with text notes and 16 pages of color photos.