Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-30
A GREAT OUTRAGE THAT OUGHT TO BE
ABATED.

ABATED.
For many years the people of Califor-
MIA have been engaged in building up
an industry that should receive the en-
couragement of all persons who believe
that good and wholesome light Vines
are the surest mediums of pushing
strong drink to the wall in the United
States. That they have had great sue
cess in their praise worthy efforts every
one admits. This concession is by no
means confined to Americans. Discrim-
mating Europeans gladly concede the
excellence OF the favorite brands OF wine
made in this state. In the line of elarets
the Sonoma, Napa and Santa Clara val
leys have achieved memorable results,
and other sections are approXimatlng to
the excellence OF these brands.
White wines OF unusual present merit
and OF still greater promise have been
made in all sections of the state. Some
years ago Mr.. L. J. Rose made hook
wine which he called "Blaue Elben,''
which was pronounced the equal of
many imported vintages, and infinitely
the superior of those manufactured sta
Piles that frequently pass for French
wines. The ports of Southern Calfor-
MIA have gained a deserved reputation,
and some of them have extorted the
marked commendation of English con-
aaoisseurs, who affect port particularly.
We have the authority of General Beale
for the statement that Los Angeles An
gelica and the Imperial Tokav are sub
stantially the same thing. This testi-
mony OF gentlemen who, as minister
to Austria, had ample opportu-
mites for forming a correct judgment,
was supplemented by that of the sur
geon-general OF the United States army,
who in public communication, which
d appeared in most of the leading news
papers of the country, said that the
only difference between good article of
Angelica and the Imperial Tokay was
that you were obliged to pay four or five
times as much money for the former,
while the medicinal effect OF both was
substantially the same.
About seven or eight years ago the
French government sent a commission
to California to inquire into our wines
These gentlemen unhes;tatingly admit
ted the value OF our cheaper wines and
conceded the fact that they compared
favorably with the cheaper vintages of
France. Since then great disasters have
overtaken the French vineyards, and it
is notorious fact that their yield has
not been nearly sufficient in quantity
to supply the French people. The
deficiency has been eked out by the
purchase of immense quantities of heady
wines from Italy, Dalmatia and other
countries. Raisins, also, have been
used to supplement the failing vine
yards. Wines thus grossly sophisticated
are sent into the United States and
other countries and are eagerly bought
by fools on account of their French
labels.
If the evil rested there we might
readily submit to the injustice. But it
does. .not rest there, by any means, and
therein lies the outrage of which we
complain.
One of our leading merchants re-
turned from business trip to the east
the other day. In his business-that OF
a grocer-he handles large guam
titles of wines, making spe-
.cialty of California brands. He
naturally made particular inquiry
as to California wines. He found, every
where, that it was impossible in any
hotel or public place to get glass of
good California wine under California
label. All the standard California wines
are sold under French labels. When it
comes to some sour, foul, wretched
stuff, that would not retail in California
for fifteen cents a gallon, however, the
labels were invariably Californian. We
are thus cross-sawed, so to speak, and
are obliged to accept the bad reputation
which we have not deserved, while be-
ing cheated of the good opinions which
we have fairly earned.
Nor is this all. We are about to make
a statement which we can substantiate.
if challenged to do so. The agent of
one of the largest wine houses in San
Francisco approached Los Angeles
dealer and offered to sell him Califor-
mia wines under any French labels he
might desire--Chateau La Rose, Cha
teau Margaux, Chateau Laftte, Chateau
anything. He suggested that the GUS
,omer whom he thus sought to make
,ould thus secure higher prices for
hem. He was little disconnected
when this conscientious dealer told him