Chasselas Dore

Gorgeous 18th-century print of a popular white wine grape.

This lovely hand-colored copperplate engraving was published in the first edition of Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau’s influential “Traites des Arbes Fruitiers.” The two-volume work includes detailed descriptions of various fruit species, methods of grafting and pruning, and techniques to improve yield and quality. Illustrated with finely crafted engravings, the treatise combined scientific observation with practical gardening advice and reflects the emphasis on horticultural knowledge that became popular during the Enlightenment.

The Chasselas dore grape is a Swiss variety commonly grown in the Macconais region and used in the production of Saint Veran and Beaunois Blancs. Today, several vineyards in Oregon are among the few winemakers that use the grape in the U.S.