To Thomas Jefferson from John Adlum, 14 March 1823
Vineyard near George-Town D.C. March 14th 1823
Dear Sir
I send for your acceptance through the Post office a bottle of wine made last September, from a grape I call Tokay, A German Priest who saw the grapes ripe said they were the true Tokay, such as he had seen growing in Hungary, I have no doubt but that these grapes are like them, but I have a strong suspicion that they are native—I found them at Clarksburg in Montgomery County at a Mrs Scholls, and she does not know where they came from—Mr Scholl in his life time called them the Catawba-grape—This wine is made without brandy but there was twenty five lbs of Sugar to the barrel—This was the first year of the vines bearing, but I have no doubt that in two years more no sugar will be required—In a few days I will send you a bottle of my Burgundy also made last September—And I send a small book on the cultivation of the vine and making wine—After you have received both bottles of wine, I will thank you for your opinion of them—These wines are rather green yet, they would be much dryer two years hence—
John Adlum
P.S. If you wish to have any grape cuttings I will send you some of the Tokay and others—The Tokay is the most abundant bearer of any grape I am acquainted with
J. A—
DLC: Papers of Thomas Jefferson.