The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-24
CHEAP WINES.

Paradoxical as it may seem to a Pro-
hibitionist, there is a very strong tenn
perance argument in the fact that the
vintage of 1874 in France is the most
bounteous on record. It is stated that
the extent of territory under wine Guilt
vation is less than 1900, 900 hectares, or
5000, 900 acres, and the produce is 75,-
600, 900 hectolitres, or 1, 997, 500, 900 gal
Ions. A French paper says the quantity
of wine already stored, would suffice to
fill canal through the whole breadth of
the Medoc district. OF this amount, the
local consumption is said to be 49,OOO,-
900 hectolitres, or ], 1893, 0O0,O 900 gallons,
leaving this year 25, 900, 900 hectorlitres,
or 662, 100000 gallons for foreign Gus
toners. Of the immensely of this bust
ness, some idea may be formed from the
fact that it is third in Importance in
France,-wheat ranking first, and sugar
second. The average annual revenue
to the producers is about 100000, 900
frances, the customers paying about
twice as much. France, as rule, con-
sumes the red wines of the Claret and
Rhine brands, containing to 5 per cent.
of alcohol. The manufactured wines,
as they are called, are principally sent
to England and the United States, and
the latter taking the champagnes and
the former the cherries, which are doc
tored with sugar and whiskey exported
from the United States, and consequently
contain large per centage of alchohol.
So far as the demand is concerned, the
american Messenger says:
cit is a noticeable fact that, so far
from there being any relaxation in the
foreign demand for French wine, the
contrary is the case, and that each sue
cesslve year brings a more formidable
demand than previously for the light
wines of France. The improved con-
sumption is most remarkable in the case
of low-priced wines, which were formerly
unstable without the limits of the French
territory"
France is not alone in its good fortune.
The California vintage is now so nearly
completed that safe estimates can be
made, and the papers of that state are
agreed that it viii reach 100000 gal
ions, which far exceeds the entire
amount which is produced by the other
States. Of this amount, five-sixths
must be exported or placed in store, as
the entire home consumption, added to
that which goes eastward to be doctored
into the likeness of foreign wines, will
not exceed 100000 gallons.
The moral of all these facts and fig
ures is cheap wine, and cheap wine is a
promoter Of temperance. France has
cheap wines and temperance. Drunk
enness is found only in Paris, and is not
the result of wine-drinl1ing, but Of cog
nae and absinthe. Italy has cheap wines
and temperance; drunken italian
would be a curiosity. Germany has
cheap beer and wines, and is tempe
rate nation. America has whiskey, and
rum, and all sorts Of poisonous COM
pounds, and drunkenness is frequent.
1t will be matter for rejoicing there
fore, if this abundant produce Of the
vineyards shall conduce to give us cheap
wines, and if the light and healthy bev-
erages of the European vineyards can
be brought here in sufficient quantity to
supplant the villainous and fiery poisons
which Americans are pouring down their
Threats because wines are so dear.-Chi-
cdqO Tribune.