NEW ZEALAND WINES.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 976, 27 December 1882, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WINES.

Shakespeare has said that “ good wine needs no hush,” but the saying does not hold good in the colonies, becau-e for some reason or other a prejudice exists as regards wines produced here. It therefore follows that where wine, the product of New Ze 'land, is good, it requires a fairly large quantity of bush to commend it to the notice of consumers. Mr J. P. Oliver, of Colombo street, Christchurch, has recently entered upon the trade of vending New Zealand wines, the products of the vineyard of Mr Poler. Wangraxini. Of tbe qualitv of tbese xrine s ? and their absolute purity there can be no doubt. Mr Oliver has recently submitted samples of them to the various medical gentlemen of Christchurch, who are unsn : mous in their high opinion of them fur medicinal purposes. They possess a full flavor and bouquet, with great natural strength, and. being unfortified with a l cohol, cannot but be healthful. Indeed they are, as claimed for them, the pure juice of the grape. A visit was recently .paid to the vaults for the purpose of sampling, when six different kinds of wine wsre produced. The first of these was Manzanilla, a very nice flavored wine, which, with age, will be much relished by connoisseurs. Next to this enme a red Burgundy, which is also a very fine wine, with splendid bouquet and flavor. The New Zealand will challenge favorable comparison either with its tralian or Victorian rival, being roryeman on the palate. A light wine which has been called Vidonia was next tasted. This is a sherry wi'h a full grape flavor. The Malaga for those who pre r er a full fruity wine, is also excellent, and Mr Oliver has a white wine yet unnamed, but which has all the characteristics of Sauterne. The only difference from the French wine is that it is somewhat sweeter. As a whole, the New-Zealand wines are excellent in quality, and no doubt when more known will come largely into consumption.—Press.