A historical dig in Texas shows that, nevertheless harsh points jumped on the frontier, the red wine was normally excellent.
How did French red wine get to deepest Texas in 1830? Turns out it was by means of Ireland, but in a periphrastic means.
It’s a story of intrigue, coincidence as well as mystery that raises the shroud a little on the region’s formative years as a republic and after that a state, as well as it all started when archaeological work at a site related to the early 19th Century background of Texas showed up some treasures that prompted individuals behind the dig to contact us below at Wine-Searcher.
Pam Stranahan, of Pals of the History Facility in Rockport TX, occupies the tale.
In the summertime of 2021, I inquired regarding several artefacts located in an ancient website neglecting Copano Bay, 30 miles north of Corpus Christi, Texas. These circular glass disks had elevated letters on them– St Estèphe Medoc and also Pauillac Medoc. These were determined as seals for wine bottles.
My search for details started online where I called Wine-Searcher. com. requesting information regarding “St Estephe Medoc”. I described that the seals were from an 1830s negotiation developed by the Irishman James Power. The responder, Wine-Searcher editor Don Kavanagh, responded: “Oh wow, how fantastic. James Power was from Ballygarrett, regarding 20 miles up the road from the town I matured in. I’ve usually passed the memorial to him when I’ve been house on holiday. It’s a small world indeed.”
The rest of the tale: James Power remained in fact born in Ballygarrett, Region Wexford, Ireland in 1788 and immigrated initially to Philly after that New Orleans by 1809. In New Orleans where he functioned as a merchant, he learned of opportunities in Mexico.
The Irish link
In 1828, the Mexican government provided an empresario grant to James Power as well as James Hewetson, who were to bring Irish and Mexicans to settle on the Texas coastline. A couple of Irish gotten here around 1830, among them the O’Connor, St. John, McDonough, Teal, Fagan, and Lambert families. Other newcomers to Texas were the Clark siblings, from a household of white wine merchants in Montgomery Region, New York. A number of these immigrants dealt with in the Texas Transformation. James Power signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and offered the rebels by getting products as well as funds in New Orleans.
James Power constructed a residence on Copano Bay as well as set out a town called Aransas City in the 1830s. This negotiation was deserted by 1855 after Power’s death and the site lay dormant. Around 2000, a new owner of the site for Aransas City, Harry Kreneck, observed artefacts dropping from his bluff onto the beach. He gathered the artefacts, videotaped the website with the state archeology company, as well as donated the artefacts to the Background Center for Aransas County. Among the artifacts were wine seals.
The seals are lovely to take a look at … however what more can they tell us? Exactly how did bottles from France reach Aransas City in the 1830s?
James Power was a successful vendor throughout the 1800s in several locations. In New Orleans he functioned as a merchant. He established a mercantile on Copano Bay in the 1830s. During the Texas Transformation (1836) Power was sent to New Orleans to get materials for the rebels. He had links and likely imported wine for his mercantile.
Who might have taken pleasure in the a glass of wine with James Power?
James Power married right into the rich Mexican household of Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla. No question they took pleasure in wine at family suppers at Aransas City. Sam Houston hung around with Power at his house in Refugio as the Texas Revolution was percolating. In his later years James and also Tomasita Power amused General Zachary Taylor that was bivouacked in Corpus Christi before the US-Mexican Battle in 1845-48.
What do you know about white wines in very early Texas that would enhance our tale? Browse through www.thehistorycenterforaransascounty.org to see the display or to send your suggestions.