OUR WINE AND GRAPE INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10126, 8 May 1896, Page 6

OUR WINE AND GRAPE INDUSTRY.

From the very favorable reports cf Signoi Brajrato, and of thaWll later oxport from South Africa, as td the wonderful capabilities of our soil and climate for the culture of the vine all the production of high-class wines, we pan hardly wonder at the astonishment ofltheso gentlemen that we have eo long ovelooked and neglected so valuable and luiative an industry. However, it is never a) late to mend, and it is some consolation lto know that there have bean a few genth sen amongst us who were cognisant of tl se facts, and hid successfully cultivated the vino and made wine of very superior [uality, oven before th& reports of the expc ts. But in epite of their statements and ; ractical experience prejudice, or careless inbelief, blinded tin, minds of the raajorit until the startling reports of those foreign jxperts proved them them to be right, ant awoke both Government and people to tli vast importance of the viticultural hdujfcry to the people of every country where the climato and oil are such as will securj the perfect maturation of the grape. I Sipnor Brngato has spoken very highly ojwinos made in many parts of the colony, nth north and south. He was especially phased with the wines made by Mr. Beetjam, of Masterton, of those made by tli Marist Fathers at Meanee, Hawked B;y, and of the Glen Var Company's wint'S.Jvhich he sampled in Auckland. The Gen Var wine industry, which is a local efneern, was commenced by the present man about seven years ago by the advice of two Italian wine prowere, who strogly recommended the soil and sites for tie culture of the vine, The vintage of 181 wa« only 27 gallons, of 1892, 250 gallop ; of 1893, 600 ealloiH ; of 189*, 2000 galbns ; and of 1895, 4000 gallons. Captain ; Smith undertook, perhaps, one of «£ most difficult tasks in New Zealand, viz., to start this industry aeainst local prejudices, caused in some measure! by the spurious productions of unqualified milters placed upon the market is New Zealand wines, against public prejudice as to the possibility of growiug grapes in the open, and in the face of adverse opinions on all sides until lately ; yet, in spite of all these obstacles, he has succeeded to i very great extent in removing prejudices tod false ideas, e*taolishing the character of New Zealand wines, and producing brandy of the highest quality; thus bringing into existence an industry calculated to benefit largely the settlers and vine-growers in the surrounding (lis tricts and the community at large. Under its new Auckland directorate, and increased capital, the (ilen Var Wine and Brandy Distillation Company will likely prove itself a worthy pioneer. By some means or other the Taradale vineyards, the Wanganui, Glen Var, and Mr. Beotham's have procured and established five valuable sorts of grape vinos from Europe for wine making purposes. It ie to be hoped that the Government will relax, as soon as possible, the present severe restrictions against tbe introduction of foreign vine cuttings of valuable grapes. To protect from the possible introduction of diseases an.' insect pests is wise. But to seize and destroy valuable imported grope vine cuttings, which can easily be rendered perfectly free '. from all danger of infection by various simple processes, well enough known to those familiar with the subject, is not only nnwiee but exceedingly discouraging. Yet this has been the practice under Government direction for many years past, although : nearly all the diseases to which vines are subject are already present in the colony. Bud these can be kept in check as in the case of diseases affecting other fruitbearing plants. Now that there seems no doubt that many parts of New Zealand are highly ' suitable for vine culture and wine production, a relaxation of the present restriction! as to the introduction of proved varieties ol ' vines might be the means of establishing ', scores of vineyards, both north and south i of Auckland, and providing profitable and , pleasant employment to hundreds if not i thousands of settlers and settlors' families.