WINE AND SPIRIT CIRCULAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 321, 30 December 1862, Page 4

WINE AND SPIRIT CIRCULAR.

[f. w. cosehs.] . . London, 18th October, 1862. ■ Daring the month that has elapsed since the issue of my September report, the tendency of our wine and spirit trade has been decidedly towards improvement. Brandy, in fair demand,'at .quoted rates. Rum, an- average trade at unaltered values. Wine of all desci-iptions in fair request at full quotations. The shipments for the month to the various Australian ports are, of winebut limited; brandy, an increase ; rum, a decline; geneva and British spirits about the same quantities as reported in September. Wines. . Sherry.—The demand for sherry continues fairly active, the prices of good and fine qualities being rigidly maintained. Considerable quantities of young, crude, immature white wines have been shipped from and via. ' Cadiz during the last twelve months. Consignments of, this character, coming without any reputed brand, are no doubt forced at lower rates than could be possible in those cases where a shipper has his reputation at stake, and which would suffer materially if any wine known to be his had proved unsound, while, on the other handj no responsibility is incurred where shipments are made for- present sale, without remedy in case of future deterioration. It is to be feared that mixtures possessing none of the characteristics of real sherry find their way into the market under cover of dire'et importafions from Cadiz. ■Port.—This wine remains in fair request, and prices of all but common sorts seem well maintained. From the Douro the accounts are more or less satisfactory .and a fair yield promises, provided the vintage has bien gathered and made in favorable •weather.. . • . ;. Marsala. - -The advices from Sicily are more assuring: as regards"the"present vintage. French.—The vintage, in France may, a^.a whole, be classed as satisfactory ; but no very high estimate of; quality is advised, . "'■ ; ■■■ • • gpnu-rg. Brandy.—Some considerable shipments to the vari- ■ ous Australian markets, have tended to stiffen prices. The new biandy cannot come to hand earlier. ; than the New Year, and the yield is generally admitted not to have been of sufficient magnitude to induce much hope of very " low prices for 1862's—from 8s 2d to 8s 6d has been hazarded as the probable opening price for Martell's.

Rum.—A large trade has been done, but at unaltered prices.