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03.  Antebellum Scientific Viticulturist:  John Patten Emmet

Early American colonists did not like the “foxy” taste of wines made from the hardy native grapes (Vitis labrusca), so they kept importing both their wines and vines. Chance pollination of native grapes with imported vinifera vines together with the efforts of amateur viticulturists led to the creation of a number of American hybrid grapes. One of the first was the “Alexander” developed by James Alexander in Philadelphia in 1740.

In 1830, Dr. D. N. Norton of Richmond produced a popular wine grape that combined American hardiness with some European flavor. The “Norton” (sometimes called “Cynthiana”), perhaps a cross with a European grape, was said to soften the “foxiness” of the American grape. Norton became the main component of prize winning wines produced in this agricultural area in the late 1800s, was replanted locally in the 1930s after Prohibition, and is now being grown in nearby vineyards.

In the 1830s many scientists tried to create better grapes for wine making. Among them were John Patton Emmet, first Professor of Natural Science and Chemistry at the new University of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson selected John Patten Emmet as the University of Virginia’s first Professor of Natural History, a discipline that then included Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Chemistry, Geology and Rural Economy.

At first Emmet lived on The Lawn, but bought the Morea property in 1834 to raise his growing family and to pursue his keen interest in horticultural experimentation.  According to his relative, George Tucker, “Emmet was constantly planning improvements, making experiments on manures and introducing delicate fruits, new species of esculents and above all rare flowers.”

Emmet dined with Jefferson when he could, and it is likely they shared wine together. Like Jefferson, Emmet experimented with grape and silk culture. Emmet imported vinifera plants and employed persons familiar with their culture to graft the foreign stock onto the native grape. He had a vineyard of some seven acres and began producing wines and brandies at Morea.  Emmet even wrote, “My farm is so close to the University that without omitting the discharge of any professional duties, I shall be enabled to ride my silk and wine hobbies to death even, should I choose to do so.”

No records have been found to indicate that others experimented with hybridization of vinifera and American grape plants after Emmet left Charlottesville in 1842.

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John Patten Emmet


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Emmet's home, "Morea," as drawn by his son Thomas Adddis Emmet. Magazine of Albemarle County History, Vol. 13.


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