COLONIAL BRANDY.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 265, 4 May 1860, Page 4

COLONIAL BRANDY.

To the Editor of the Melbourne Argus,— Encouraged by your insertion of my letter under the heading of*" Corn, Wine, and Oil," I now beg to offer a few remarks on the above:

Bitter disappointment in my hopes that this season would have convinced Victorians that wine, at least equal in quality lo any that the world can produce, could be made here, haa led me to an immediate consideration of this subject. This season, except in the vicinity of Geelong, and other parts open to the sea breeze, grapes have been abundant and fine. In the .early part of the season the price was low, and many persons intended making wine; but the low price 2<m bcfught orders from the diggings

and such has been the demand and consequent a Ivance of price, that nearly allthe fine grapes | have already gone in consumption for table |>urpj|seai. ■.. : -~.. ',,:-, vii - ,> , v / ; ■: ~-; ...,., .;: So far good for wine-growers unfortunately winemakers, rather than be diverted from their object, are making wine from the refuse grapes, and these " wines 5' will probably come forward at our next exhibition as samples of Victorian wine, and wine, the greatest, the most noble gift of Providenoe to man, will be subjected to a similar libel to that which has been inflicted upon it at the Exhibition of the present year^ ■- ■■. ■■<'' ■■ ■■.•■■".' ■,;.:.■ ■■•■\' . ■'■ '■■ Sir, good wine cannot be made from the refuse of the vineyard. To make good wine you must have good grapes. Good brandy can be made from the most ordinary wiae.an^l there-, fore implore those who are .now making wine out of rubbish which is only nt for pigs' food to turn their attention to the subject. The present law allows winemakers to distil to the extent of 25 per cent, of the wine they may have on their premises. A very short bill might permit free distillation of wine, at least for export. With free distillation this colony might produce sufficient brandy to supply the wants of all Europe. ; This, and all I have before written on the capacity of this colony for wine-making, mayappear exaggeration. Who -is this Beberifao ? some may say. Why do not those gentlemen who hold position in this colony, and; who have been merchants in wine countries^ say iomiething confirmatory of his statements?r - Who is" V"? He may be like Beberrao, neither a great merchant, nor an M.L.A. Whatever •• V" may be, I say, I hope he may live a few years longer, and I am sure that he will see that his time and talent, and the facilties the Argut has afforded liini, have Hot been thrown away. In self-defence, however, I crave permission, through your medium, to challenge some of our known men as to the veracity of my statements. I will begin by selecting Mr. Wild, of the firm of Vaughar^ and Wild,-^-a gentleman who will not hesitate to chastise me if I make too free. Mr. Wild has to my knowledge resided at least 20 years in wine countries. At one time I believe he was the only British merchant resident on theMinho. At any rate I found his name weH'known there among the native merchants, who held him With great authority. The .Minho ia the garden of Portugal; here pure wine sells'at one penny to two-pence per pint. Ordinary wine is not charged for to the customers for provisions at the restaurants or ; stalls. There every poor man drinks two or three pints of wine per day ; there men live to the ages of 90 and 100 years, and drunkenness is unknown; Now, Mr. Wild, you have been a long time in Victoria; whioh of the two countries possesses the greatest natural advantages for vine-growing, the district of the Minho or Victoria? I say Victoria, by something like 50 per cent. If we had free distillation, oould.Coguac compete with Victoria? I bay we could beat Cagnac in quantity and quality. If I am exaggerating, after using Mr.' Wild's ■name,.l am pretty sure that gentleman will not fdl to notice it. If you think lam making too freo with the names of public men, I shall feel obliged by your leaving the name blank. If any one will show that I am guilty of unfairness, I shall be happy to publish my name, and make the "amende honorable." —Beberrao.