MIXED VINTAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 13

MIXED VINTAGE

DYE IN PORT “LIKE NOTHING ON EARTH” WINE-MERCHANT FINED TAO you like coal-tar dye with your pert wine?—No? The Health Department does not approve of it either. Charles Kendrick pleaded guilty in the Police Court this morning to a charge of selling port wine containing coal-tar dye. A bottle produced in court as evidence against him was labelled as follows:

I 1 I EXTRA SPECIAL 9 Years Old. (Thoroughly Matured) Pure New Zealand Wine. Bottled by: The Te 'Cauwhata Wine Co.

Mr. Paterson, who appeared for the Health Department, said that the wine sold by defendant was hardly wine at all. It was made of reject apples, pears, grapes and honey. In addition to these, analysis showed that coal tar dye was added. The presence of the fruit could not be revealed by analysis, but Government wine-tasters had detected it. Defendant said he had used clean, wholesome reject grapes. He denied using apples. “LIKE NOTHING ON EARTH" Producing a small bottle of the prime vintage, Mr. Patterson handed it up to the magistrate, Mr. McKean. “I don’t know whether your Worship is a connoisseur,” he said, “but have a look at the colour of that—its like nothing on earth.” His Worship looked and then remarked: “It is certainly not attractive." Mr. Patterson said that the wine was labelled: “Nine years old.” “More like nine months/ he added. “Is this man the Te Kauwhata Company?” “He is now,” replied Mr. Patterson. “He did have a partner, but they quarrelled over the composition of the wine.” “This has been going on for some time,” said the magistrate, as he lined Kendrick £25.