San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-10

ing Front Rank for Quality-ca-
tering to American Tastes.
WASHINGTON, October 1O.-The
French embassy here received from
the international wine exhibition
at Bordeaux, France, the second
bulletin on the wine production of
the world. 1t makes the surpris
ing statement that the United
States is fifteenth in importance
among the wine producing coun-
tries, being preceded by Chilli,
Roumania, Servia, Greece, Argen-
tine Republic, Switzerland and
other small countries, besides the
great centers of wine production.
1t also brings out the keen contest
between France and Italy to con-
troll the American market. The
Italian government has established
wine station at New York, where
the American taste, flavor, ETC., is
consulted and reported to Rome.
AS to the standing of the countries
the bulletin says: "The wine pro-
ducing countries are, CHASING them
according to their Importance,
France, Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Germany, Austria Hungary, Rus
STA, Switzerland, Turkey, Servia,
Greece, Roumania, Argentine Re-
public, Chilli, the United States of
America, Brazil, Australia, Cape
of Good Hope and a few others
producing only a very little. By
the side of the French production
is placed that of Algeria and Tunis,
colonies which yield about as much
as the German vine growing dis
trict. At one time Italy appeared
to be of the first rank, it was after
the vintage of 1886, which pro-
duced S46,000,000 gallons. Our
neighbors, on the other side of the
Alps, could not contain their legi-
innate joy and fastened to let it
be known to the world, by every
means of the press here, that
henceforth they would occupy the
first rank for the production of
wine. 1t was little over estimat-
ed, because the eight years from
1879 to 1887 only yielded an aver
age vintage of sos, 4S6, 1896 gallons,
whereas in France the average
during the same period was $751;
424, ia gallons. In 1898 Italy
reached 100000 gallons, but
France came up to the figure Of
LOO, 100000 of gallons, not includ-
ing Algeria and Tunis. In 1894
Italy was credited with having
made 52S,OOO,OOO gallons and
France 100000 gallons without
the African colonies. The efforts
made by Italy to increase its open
ing on all the established markets
have been up to this date consider
able, especially since the increase
of the custom house duty imposed
by France on its wines. The 1tal-
ian government favored these eff
forts to great extent. 1t has in
stituted storehouse cellars or tech
nical wine stations in many Eu-
ropean towns, as well as beyond
the seas. There is one in Berlin,
one in Vienna, one in Trieste, one
in Buda Pesth, one each in Buenos
Ayres and New York. Experienced
clever wine makers direct them to
study the taste and flavor Of the
wine and send regular reports
home. That must be admitted to
be in itself practical achieve
ment, the result Of which, although
unequal in Importance, according
to the countries, the depot in Lon
don, for instance, being suppressed,
cannot fail to present very encour-
aging facts for Italy,"
Spain has also tried its best to
find openings or markets for a
short time and has had in New
York standing similar to that Of
Italy. A treaty, the same that
Spain has just signed with the Ar
gentine republic, by which it has
engaged itself not to augment the
duty on salt meat, assures to its
wines a great advantage over those
of France and Italy. The Spanish
wines are beginning to conquer the
market. A few weeks ago some
American wine plantations were
commenced at Jerez de La From
terra. Portugal has much weakened
in consequence of the invasion Of
the phyllophagan, which has de-
stroyed entire districts. Hungary
has equally suffered.
The other vine yards in the world
have suffered more or less from the
phyllOphagan.