AN OPOTIKI INDUSTRY

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 99, 19 October 1938, Page 3

AN OPOTIKI INDUSTRY

PllOI>i;CI?LON OF WINK VERY FINE VARIETIES Very lew Opotiki people are aware oi' the fact that wine is produced in Opotiki in very large quantities. The wine is of excellent quality and finds a ready sale on outside markets. For about 10 years Air. S. Shalloon has been making several varieties of wine and has hundreds of gallons stored in a cellar. At present- 000 gallons of wine are produced annually and stored in long rows of barrels, after having been passed several times through a special filter apparatus which removes all sediment. Throughout the year the vineyard requires constant attention, pruning and spraying operations already having been carried out. The task of gathering in the large,crop of fruit is no easy one, and while this is being done about '2O girls are busily engaged in cutting each grape in half and scooping out the flesh and juice. A compliment, was paid to Air. Shalloon’s wine by a visitor from Australia who owns five hotels there- He stated that the winci produced in Opotiki compared more than favourably with any he had tasted. it is the'practice of some wine-mak-ers to mix fermented liquids from potatoes or other plants with their wines, hut Air. Shalloon is very particular that all wine produced by him is absolutely unadulterated. An invitation is extended to all local residents to visit the vineyard and factory and: visitors will he very interested in what they see. The following wines are produced in various grades: Madeira. Malaga, .Muscatel, Port, Invalid Port, Sherry, and Passionfruit. People wishing to place their Christmas orders will find the prices very much cheaper than those offered by outside firms and will have the opportunity of sampling beforehand the actual wine that they are purchasing.