USDA Bureau of Plant Industry Wine Research Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS0288

Staff Only

Content Description

The USDA Bureau of Plant Industry Wine Research Collection consists of materials related to the establishment of a wine research program by the bureau in the 1930s. The collection contains correspondence, articles, reports, statistics, and maps regarding the wine industry, winemaking, grapes, wine varietals, vineyards, viticulture, and experimental wineries throughout the United States. About half of the materials relate to California and the University of California. Many of the letters were written by Eugene C. Auchter, who was the principal horticulturist in charge (later the assistant chief) of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). Auchter corresponded with fellow BPI scientists, wine industry professionals, and university professors. Some of his correspondents included Charles A. Magoon, Knowles A. Ryerson, Elmer Snyder, and William V. Cruess.

Dates

Creation: 1852-1983
Creation: Majority of material found within 1933-1937

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Organizational History

With the 1933 repeal of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, known as Prohibition, there was renewed interest in producing quality wines in the United States. Soon after Prohibition ended, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to establish a research program in winemaking. The BPI began planning to build a research facility at its Horticultural Research Station in Beltsville, Maryland, to investigate the best grape varieties for specific regions of the country, to study the effects of climate and soil on grape cultivation, to purchase specialty equipment, and to consider the costs of winery operations. The building that housed the BPI wine research facility, along with laboratories designed for other fruit and vegetable research, was completed in 1936. However, the wine research program was cancelled before it began, and BPI's winemaking facility was re-purposed.