WANGANUI WINE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 24 April 1884, Page 2

WANGANUI WINE.

(From the Wanganui Herald.) The assertion that many parts bf New Zealand, more particularly the North Island, are well-adapted M grape growing, has been so often mad); that it is rather astonishing that[th> subject has been so little attended t&7 Believing that it is for tho public good that all particulars which bear on life subject should bo brought forward more prominently than lias hitherto, been done, we herewith givc'an account of a visit paid to Mr Soler's vineyard in Bell street.

The success which lias attended 'thief cultivation of grapes for wincmaking in South Australia has already done much towards paving the way for 'a similar industry hero, and there can-be little doubt but that in a few years a large amount of private capital will be sunk in the endeavor to foster an industry for which the climate and soil are so eminently suitable. Wanganui is, perhaps, almost the only district in', the colony in which wine-making for' commercial purposes is a recognised' industry, though, from reports which : . reach us it is highly probably that we, shall soon-hear of substantial ventures: being made in the far North. In this ; district the name of Mr Soler is most intimately connected with the -wine.; making industry. Others, certainly,'! have attempted its manufacture; But having never cultivated their own grapes, the supply has had to como from. natives and others, who grow grapes on the banks of the upper portion of the Wanganui river. - The quality of the fruit grown in these districts would be hard to beat, but the Maories seem of late years to have tired of paying attention to thei) culture, tho supply being

thus almost altogether stopped, Mr Soler has for the last thirteen years provided his own supply from his Bell Street Vineyard, and at this season of the year, the enclosure is one of the sights of Wanganui, The crop though not nearly so heavy as that of last year, is in itself a complete refutation of the views of those who are -inclined to. think that New Zealand cannot compete with any show of success in tho cultivation of the grape.' Hie area of Mr Soler's ground is about 3 acres, the soil of which is to a great extent mixed with the substratum of pumice which is characteristic of certain porfciohslof the suburbs of Wanganui.' The vines are grown about: seven feet high, the branches being trained horizontally over a kind of lattice work of wood mid wire attached to upright posts. 1 Mr Soler is a native of Taragona, in Spain and coming from a family of wino growers, he possesses special experience in this line of business, a : fact which will generally be allowed when we say • . that from three acres his average crop is upwards of twenty tons. Mr Soler's fruit (although the soil is not quite suitable) shows when tested with the.saccharonieter, ripening qualities of high order. No signs of desease haVo yet made their appearance, but as a "precautionary measure all the vines are subjected to liberal supply of : • sulphur shower every year, applied by .'means of a bellows when the grapes, 'are first forming. Tho plants, were originally imported from 'Victoria, and no less than 27 varieties were grown on purpose to ascertain which varieties would bo most suitable for the climate, .After a course of experiments had been made Mr Soler selected the following seven as best suited to the district, viz. Muscat, St James, Black Hamburg, Ladies Fingers, Small' Burgundy, Cheisalias and : Pikepoll, and these varieties are now under cultivation. The ripening months are March, April and May, and although this year it is reckoned that the season is. fully a 4L month later than usual, the visitor to 7 Mr Soler's vineyard will find the \ grapes hanging, temptingly overhead, many of them fully ripe, and of excellent flavor. The quantity of wine ! made annually by Mr Soler is about 200 qr casks, and the average stock in j his cellars is about 400 qr casks, tho" greater portion of which is from live to seven years old. The varieties of wine made by Mr Soler nro Port, Mancanilio, Sherry, Malaga, Muscat, Verdeilho, Constantina, Hock, Sparkling Champagne, Sparkling Moselle, Sparkling Hock, and Cream of Burgundy. All these wines have been submitted to chemical analysis, and the report given by Dr Skey, Government analyst, is very favorable as are also the te.<,iimonials, which wo understand, wore furnished voluntarily by several medical men. At the Melbourne Exhibition Mr Soler's wines obtained six : prizes, at the Ashbmton Industrial Exhibition in 1881 they were awarded n;. certificate of first order of merit. In Christehurch Soler's wines are greatly .appreciated and at the late Exhibition ■.held there they secured a prize modal, iln Chrisbhurch Mr Sievers, the local agent, has found a ready sale for the wines,', and as indicating the high opinion formed of their quality it may be mentioned -that Mr Soler has a standing order for tho supply of tho Christehurch Hospital. For the Wellington, Featherston, and Wairarapa Districts, Captain Laimbeer has been ' appointed agent, and it is extremely satisfactory to lcirn that from those districts large orders .have been received. Mr Soler informed our representative that he would be very glad to confine his attention solely to' winemaking only, and he would be quite prepared to afford all the information ■in his power to those settlers who would like to make a commencement at grape growing. The cultivation of giapes, like the cultivation of hops, should be more general in this district, as neither of then l , require much land, and but liltlo labor is necessary to secure such abundant crops as Mr Soler has secured. In conclusion wo may express tho hope that the industry which is just now in its infancy, will prove one for which'this coast will become noted, and we feel sure that for Mi'Soler at anyrato a successful future' is in store, and that the venture on which ho has embarked will be amply remunerative.