CHEAP CHAMPAGNE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 306, 28 December 1931, Page 6

CHEAP CHAMPAGNE.

A slump has taken place in champagne owing to the heavy drop an the exports -to Britain. It is now selling in Earn at a retail price of 1/6 a bottle. This will "bring it within speaking distance of beer, and it may descend from its high estate and become,' perhaps, a drink for the masses. The high price ruling so long for champagne was due to the fact that it can only be produced in a small triangle stretching from Rheiros to Epernay, thence to Chalons-sur-Manic and back to Rheinva. The shipper blends wines from different vineyards, so that the best features of each wine show to advantage. Everything depends on all the conditions bemg exactly right when the grapes are picked. Hence the best brands of champagne, such as the Dry Monopole of 1887, have often fetched fancy prices. Ihe French were hard hit in the days of Anne, when the British Government, anxious to encourage the wine trade with Ptortugal, admitted Portuguese wince at £7 per ituit, while a duty of £55 per tun was'imposed on French'wines. As a result, Portuguese wines increased from 40 per cent of the total imported isto Britain to 72 per cent. This was the period of the popularity of port wine—and prevalence of gout. The most famous brand of port was Jknown as "'33" port, and this fetched three guineas a bottle. The highest price paid for any wine is said to be £80 a bottle, which was paid at auction for two bottles of old Burgundy. Two guineas a bottle was often paid for the brand of claret known as Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Towards ; the close of last century sparkling champagne tost something of its aristocratic status, owing partly to the large amount of spurious wines sold (it was that only one-third was genaiine), and partly owing to the fact that its popularity caused it to be used by people considered outside the circle of the eiect. It was at this time that a demand sprang up for "still" chanipagme, largely due to the fact that this was a favourite wine with the late King Edward. Hock amd seltzer also came into fashion as a morning drink. The beet wines are known by their "bouquet," which is a peculiar aromatic flavour. This can only be appreciated by the linest palates, and it is said that Cardinal Newman was one of the best judges of "bouquet' at Oxford. It was' currently reported that the essential difference between the High Church and Low Church was that High churchmen were the best judges of wine, and Low churchmen the best judges of beef and mutton. In the immortal words of the butler iji "Punch": "The High Cliureh mostly drinks wpne and the Low Church mostly eats victuals, aiwl I must provide accordingly." - W - M "