Harvest Report from Meran: Grape and Fruit Yields and Spa Visitors

Austrian Monarchy.

Meran, 7 Oct. The grape harvest is over. The fine, golden hopes for a rich harvest, which arose during the clear, warm days of early September, were clouded once more by the perpetual rain that persisted through most of the subsequent September days, never allowing our fields to dry.

As during the persistent rains of August, under this continuously wet September weather the overabundance of juice burst the skins of the grapes, which, coated in mould, lacked elasticity and could no longer contain the surging juice.

A great quantity of grapes was thus ruined; much was spoiled by rot, which spread dreadfully during those rainy days. The remedies by which presumptuous farmers claimed they could unfailingly cure this grape damage, such as making incisions in the vine or watering with lye, remained, like other advice of a similar nature, without success.

This entire phenomenon of the grape disease, whose root cause remains essentially a mystery, which appeared erratically everywhere and could nowhere be reduced to a general law, frustrating every praiseworthy effort to discover a cure, may provide religious minds with ample material for solemn reflection. —

It is clear that under these unfavourable influences wine prices were bound to rise. — A Yhre of Prasglet of ordinary quality sells for 8 fl., of medium quality for 12 fl., and of the best quality for 22 fl., a price bracket that also includes the renowned Terlaner.

Since a Yhre of Prasglet yields two-thirds wine and 3 Maß of brandy, the prices for ordinary wine will stand at 12 fl., for medium quality at 18 fl., and for the finest at 32 fl. A hearty addition of dark red Lagrein will have to lend the brick-coloured product a higher value in the eyes of wine buyers. Whether these prices will rise further or fall will likely depend on the greater or lesser influx from Italy; if this increases, as is to be hoped and desired, some farmers may miscalculate to their own detriment if, expecting the grape disease to appear even more virulently next year, they withhold their wine from the market and hoard it for times in which they anticipate fortunes. Only farmers in the best economic circumstances can attempt such a gamble, and they are fully within their rights; yet such cold-hearted speculation on a general misfortune can hardly be approved of by finer sensibilities. —

The new wine obtained from the diseased grapes has found enthusiastic panegyrists; they describe it as crystal clear, very pleasing to the palate without the initial sharp bite, almost leaning towards sweet, not at all turbulent, without the slightest unpleasant aftertaste.

Thus the expectation of a few confident men would seem to have come true, who had written upon the barrels in which the must of diseased grapes was fermenting the words: “Buona speranza, buona fidanza!”

The fruit of the Meran area, which now enjoys a European reputation, has thrived in abundance. The walnut trees, exposed during their flowering period to all the inclemencies of shifting spring weather and therefore often unsuccessful, have yielded a fine return this year; the chestnut trees were no less blessed, indeed the wild chestnuts are even said to be as palatable as the sweet chestnuts of the past year.

The apple trees almost collapsed under the weight of their fruit; even the prized Rosemary apples, foremost in quality, equal the other varieties in abundance.

However, some signs of an apple disease already appeared this year. In June spots resembling freckles appeared on the skin; these patches of the apple were rotten, yet in the clear, warm days of July these damages completely healed over. —

Meanwhile, some experienced fruit merchants show no inclination to export Meran apples abroad, as they fear some rotting during transit; they say that the apples, when cut open, show too much unripened juice in the centre, which is bound to cause rot; connoisseurs and gourmets also note that the fruit this year lacks its genuine, characteristic flavour. -

The current season shows in its registers 1,306 visitors since the second half of August who stayed in Meran for shorter or longer periods.