Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-21
1t is Growing in Popularity
in the East.
English Merchants Are I'm
porting 1t Largely.
Opinions of 1t Expressed by the
Chicago People.
The Clubs There Prefer It to the French
Wine-The London Clubs Also
Using 1t.

ished in the Chicago Herald indicates
that California wines are growing in
favor.
A. G. Furney, retired wine merchant
of London, who recently passed through
Chicago en- route to the Pacific slope,
where he is now the guest of Mr.. H. w.
Crabb, the noted wine merchant, at his
elegant country home in Napa county,
California, speaks highly of American
wines.
He says that the California products
are well received in England. Give
years ago." he said, 81 ordered few
barrels of California wines as an expert
ment. 1t could hardly be distinguished
from the French article except by the
label. Then began to import it regu-
larly in small quantities. Each year the
trade in California wines has increased,
until now the imports are extensive. l
am on my way to the Pacific coast now
to look at the vineyards. l am not
looking for investments, but am on a
pleasure trip, from which 1 shall derive
some information"
RThe white wines of California are
excellent. They are in every sense
equal to those produced in France.
California champagne is better than
French champagne, and it is often
called for in some of the best clubs and
cafes in London. 1 believe that in a
few years California will be the wine
producing country of the world. The
French have been handling vineyards
so long that they can get a better quail
ity of grape than the Californians, but
the Americans are improving, and it is
only matter of time before they will be
at the top. California has one ad-
vantage. 1t can raise crop of grapes
every year, while the climate of France
allows only one good vintage every
seven years. Five years from now Cali
fornia vineyards will be more valuable
than those of France"
The statements made here by Mr..
Furney, and which are substantially
quoted above, have been telegraphed all
over the country, and, as a matter OF
fact, have appeared in almost all the
daily newspapers of the Pacific slope.
They have elected very many express
sions highly gratifying to the wine-pro-
ducing interests of the United States.
This unsolicited and unprejudiced ad-
mission by gentleman of Mr.. Furney's
broad experience and high standing as
q business man, foreigner, and one
whose judgment is alive at all times tt
the weak points of the products Of {
rival nation, must be justly regarded as
the very best and most convincing testi
mony. 1t certainly will not be without
its encouraging influences on the young
and growing features of the wine-pro
ducing belt of the great west.
A cursory tour made by representa-
tive of the Herald among some of the
leading wine-handlers and experts O.
Chicago discloses the fact that the wine
products OF California are growing rap
idly in the popular favor. The informa
tion was given that for table and family
sideboard use this class OF wines had thu
preference. There is not club house
hotel or fashionable cafe in Chicago tina
does not have on it's wine card com
plete list of the leading brands of tn,
wines of California.
The curious fact was disclosed in tn,
reporters general research that, as il
many other American products, the for
eigners are the first to recognize and ap
preciate the superiority of the Californi:
wines. In fact, the high standing they
have at home they owe to the endorse
ment of the French and English people
Monsieur Montfort, of the Restaurant
Parisien, of this city, commends the vir
tues of the California wines, and declares
that they are the best, purest and most
palatable wines produced. He, as a ma
tive of France, and with a residence O.
many years in California, thoroughly
knows the wines of both countries. He
expresses with decided confidence the
belief that when wine-making has
reached the same development in this
country that it has in France
the wines of California will equal
if not excel, the products of the
best vineyards of France. The ad
vantage of the French vineyard was, il
his opinion, one merely of longer skill
in the making of wines. The American
vine was not only more certain bu
more prolific. 1t produced a wine O
greater body and strength, and was SUI
periOr in these particulars. The sale O.
American wines was injured by dispos
ing of the vintage while it gas still
green. 1t should be older before placing
it on the market. He has found that
where the vines of France have been
planted in California and the latter in
France, the product puzzled the expert
to say if there was any difference. Cali
fornia wines have been exported to
France and then sent to this country
under new labels, with the same
puzzling result to the expert. Many
Americans drink imported wine at the
same price as the American wine
simply for the name, and they not in.
frequently pay higher price for an in
ferior wine, for no other reason than
that it bears the magic foreign label.
Mr.. John B. Seghers, the steward Of
the Chicago club house, declares that
the California clarets, sauternes and
burgundies are good wines when they
can be obtained pure and of proper age
They have more body than the French
wine, and for this reason are more popu
lar than the latter wine with the Scotch
English people, who invariably demand
a strong wine. Mr.. Seghers operated
at Coronado hotel at San Diego, anC
has a wide knowledge of California, ano
of the popular brands of imported wines
He received from Lucky Baldwin from
his Santa Anita ranch some of the finest
wine he ever used.
Mr.. Hickox, of the Union Club, said
"that while there was little native wine
called for at the Union Club, he was sat.
isfied that SO far as the excellency and
purity of the better grades of Californis
wines were concerned there was no rea.
son in his opinion why they should not
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