The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-30
Tho o,ae., wine. In America.

Charleston Is. c) Correspondence Of The New York
World.
A paragraph which has been published
here and there recently 10 the effect that
Savannah probably had the oldest wines
In America has brought TO light the fact
that old residents OF Charleston still have
n few dusty bottles in their wine cellars OF
the vintage Of 1855. In fact, there Is q
considerable quantity OF wine In this city
over n century old.
While there can be no question that In
the city OF Savannah there have been large
quantities Of old wine. especially Madeira,
In the hands Of It's merchants and other
citizens, preserved for their own consump-
ton, II Is probable that the custom Of hay-
ing supplies much more than sufficient for
immediate use among the wcll-to-do OF tho
city OF Charleston was even greater for
mcrly than In Savannah. This had been
the case In colonial times, and was an En-
glish habit, for in the last century tho
quantities OF wines consumed In families
from day 20 day were very great, and IL
was therefore necessary 10 keep the cellar
and garrct well stocked.
IL was then that the Island Of Madeira
was producing thosc valuable yintages
which In the middle Of the present century
began 10 diminish in quantity on account
OF n disease u tho vine. This eventually
caused a total cessation Of Its cultivation,
and very soon after prosperity began 10
dawn upon the infant colonies Of South
Carolina and Georgia, and a trade with
Madeira began, which lasted without in
t%crruption until the island ceased 10 pro-
duce any more wine. Madeira wine, when
new, Is a strong aud fiery liquid, aud In
England the manner Of ripening il was 10
send II on n voyage TO India and return
by the Cape OF Good Hope, which fire.
qucntly occupied an entire year. Even
several such voyages were insufficient 20
iis thorough ~mellowing. Carolina or Geor-
gia Madeira were two names by which n
properly ripcned vine was known 10 con-
noissours beyond the limits Of those two
states. OF the two terms, Carolina Ma
doim was the one best known 10 strangers.
Madeira wine In cnsk. when purchased
n century or more ago by the consumer on
its arrival and bottled by his servants, was
not expensive. An extreme figure was co
cents per bottle, including bottles and
corks, and certain persons could Justly
boast that the cost 10 them was m low M
40 cents. These moderate prices arc ono
OF the explanations Of the large stocks that
were laid by, and after the certain Inn
provemcnt by keeping became known, the
purchase OF the wine WIS considered a
good investment. Tho owners Of large
quantities throughout the low country Of
South Carolina, and 10 some extent In and
near Columbia, the center and capital OF
the State, up 10 the close OF tho late war,
are too numerous 10 mention. The two
Mcssn. Gourdin, Nathaniel Howard.
James Rose, John Ravenel and Charles
Manigault are those best remembered.
The first were probably the largest Of all,
their entire stock consisting OF about 5000
bottles OF choice Madeiras and 1000 more
OF sherries and other wines. These wines
had been sent 10 Anderson, s. c., for
safety. when Charleston was being shcllcd
from Morris Island, and were completely
destroyed In n few houn by a maraudiny
party OF Federal cavalry, who sacked the
town IN May, 1855, over a month after ali
hostilitics had ceased. The streets Of An
dcrson verify ran wine OF hat day.