CANADIAN WINES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 478, 21 September 1899, Page 18

CANADIAN WINES.

Mr Lawrence D. Warner, of Brantford, Ontario, writing to the Pall Mall Gazette, says: A few months ago there was a considerable amount of correspondence in a few of the leading English papers on the subject of Canadian productions, wine in particular. It is on the latter subject that I would like to say a few words, thereby adding my views as a Canadian to those already expressed. The manufacture of wine has been carried on in this country for many years, and connoisseurs have from time to time expressed themselves in very favourable terms as to the quality. The climate of Southern Ontario is such that the grapes grown there are possessed of superior excellence as regards flavour, ripening as they do to perfection. The wine produced from these ggrapes is not confined to the Canadian market, as a considerable quantity is annually consumed in the West Indies. . The peculiar medicinal properties of our port wines are recognised by the medical faculty both here and there, and in consequence these are in great demand by those in delicate health, taking the place of the more expensive imported wines for that purpose to a great extent. The flavour of wines produced from dried grapes cannot begin to compare with that made from the fresh and natural fruit, and for that reason Canadian port has superseded imported wines here for sacramental use, the bishops and clergy fully recognising the superiority of a wine possessing the original flavour of the grape over the foreign article. I can see no satisfactory reason why this industry should not receive more attention from the Motherland, and why English people should not place our wines on their dinner tables in preference to much that is inferior, for I can assure them that for purity and flavour they have few superiors. Why should we not receive an equal amount of patronage with Australia ? I firmly believe that Canada produces wine that will equal anything that colony can put out. Australia sends her brandy to the old land. Canada also prides herself on the superiority of her brandy, manufactured on Pelee Island from the Catawba grape. I have yet to hear of Australian champagne. We can add champagne to our list of productions, and are only waiting for our English brothers to recognize the fact, which they would readily do, I think, were the opportunity granted them.