The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-09
OUR WINES IN LONDON,
The Difficulty Of Getting Them
Into the English
Market.
Mr.. Randolph Payne's Statement Is
Reviewed by Mr.. Charles
A. Wetmore.

The statement of Mr.. Randolph PAYNE,
an English wine merchant, that California
wines were not pushed in London, which
appeared in yesterdays CALL, has pro-
voked much discussion among the wine
men. Charles A. Wetmore, who has been
so prominently identified with the wine
interests of the coast, said on this subject:
.'Mr. Payne's remark is by no means
new to us. have heard many Intelligent
travellers say that they never heard of any
California wines in New York. yet Cali
fornia exports and sells in that city more
wine than is imported from all the world
into the United States. London, as an
English merchant once said to me, is a
country; it is more than a city. But there
are large quantities of wine sold there.
Messrs Grierson, oldham & Co.. Regent
street, W., dispose of 10000 cases a year
of California wines, and advertise them
extensively.
''Mr. Payne speaks of paying 6 shillings
for quart of California burgundy in Scot
land. This was the Big Tree brand, which
Oldham & Co. advertise extensively. He
says that he finds no difficulty introducing
those hotels largely frequented by Ameri-
cans, California wines are not popular
That gentleman has made two trips to the
coast to expert our wines, and is thoroughly
posted on all the brands and vineyards of
the State.
Again the L. J. Rose & Co.. limited, has
its offices in London. This vineyard is en-
estate is also owned in that country. Mr.
Hague, who, with his brother, owns
vineyard and winery at Gilroy, is now sell
ing his own wines in Manchester. He also
makes large shipments of California bran
dies to different points.
II am confident that those who wish to
find our wines in the London market can
do SO with ease, and that is all that can be
said. But they do not handle our high
grade wines either in London or New York
They prefer those of inferior quality be.
cause they cost less, are more salable and
there is more profit in them.
1.-THE wine-growers of California are at
this disadvantage. They cannot afford to
hold their wines to make market: they
cannot be wine-grOwers, wine brokers and
wine-merchants at the same time. A full
cellar means credit at the bank. When the
cellar is empty the bank wants it's money.
For this reason we find it hard to squeeze
into the London market. If the English
merchants wants our wines they must come
over here and select them.
How can 500 scattered wine-growers of
California hope to discover Just what suits
their palate? We send on a consignment.
It is at once dumped into warehouse and
all sorts and variety of expense tagged on
to it, So in New York and so in other
large cities, and by the time it is sold, if
ever, the grower is fortunate if he gets his
actual expenditures back.
Then they ask us why we do not com.
bine. Wine is competitive, and, naturally,
each grower struggles to be ahead.
Now, as to the quality of our wines.
Mr.. Oldham, when acting as expest for the
royal commission, said there is a con-
tinuously growing export trade in Cali
fornia wines all over the world, and ever
increasing quantities are finding their way
to England, where they are taking o recog-
nized position, being appreciated by the
public for their purity and wholesome
ness.''