The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-16
PLENTY OF CHAMPAGNE.
hut the Fact Will Not Tend to Lowes
Prices.
(From the London standard-)

| (Fron, the London Standard)
certain faint hope that champagne
may become cheaper In the future is sug-
gested by the report that this year the
yield Of wine in the Marine Department OF
| France has been unusually abundant. Ex-
| perience of the past, however, is not en-
couraging. for hitherto the quantity OF
wine made has had no effect upon price
| in 1888, for instance, the Marine vine-
| yards produced sixteen and a quarter mil
| lion gallons. but the cost of the vintage
! to the public was. in the case Of well
| known brands, exactly the same as that OF
| the finer vintage of 1889, when little more
| than six million gallons were made Pur-
chasers may be pardoned for thinking that
when nature is unusually prod!gal in her
| gifts they should be permitted to share
| in the benefit. instead Of seeing it confined
| to the grower and the shipper.
| There will always be a strong demand
| for champagne as festive beverage.
| Without being strongly alcoholic. it pos
| sesses unrivaled exhilarating properties.
| Nevertheless. the official returns show
| that there has been a heavy decline in
| the consumption of the wine, and though
| in this country the falling off is doubtless
| due in large degree to the war in South
Africa, we may reasonably assume that
the exorbitant price charged in many in
stances has had its influence upon the
public. II is true that champagne can
never be a very cheap wire owing to the
extreme care required for the selection
OF the grapes, and all the subsequent pro-
cesses of preparation. Moreover, as the
vintage wines Of two or three Of the best
known houses invariably appreciate in
value Immediately they are put upon the
market. it cannot fairly be said that those
firms are giving any cause OF complaint
to their customers.
The trade. however. is now in position
which is quite without precedent. Fol-
lowing upon the more or less excellent
vintages of 1889. 1892. 1898, and 1895 came
the 1885, the 1895 and the 1905's. all
OF which are expected to attain renown.
Such a succession of fine vintages has
never before been known. and IL would
be contrary to all commercial principles
ii the consumer should derive no advan-
tage from this abundance OF good wire
1t may be remarked that the hotel keep
ers and restauranteurs are more reSpon-
si5ie than the shipper for the extraya-
CANT rates demanded at their establish
meuts. Within recent years. indeed, the
hotel trade has made the life Of the ship
per's agent miserable.
Some OF the hotel companies demand
large sums-aa much as f3O0 and even
$500 year-for quoting and selling any
particular brand. and smaller Or oprietors
make claims which they consider proper
tomato to their Importance. while the
walters ask for 'corkage." or commits
sion on corks returned by them. Certain
houses, OF course. are strong enough to
stand out against these exacticns, but
others yield. and. it is to be presumed.
have the sale of their wine pushed ac-
cordingiy.
All this may be of little interest to the
consumer except that II should lead him
to disregard the recommendations OF
champagne which are advanced by man.
ayers or walters. but ,he has right to ex-
pect that the price he pays shall be more
in proportion with the intrinsic value Of
the wine. and with the net sum paid to
the shipper. than it is at present. The
policy of high prices is not good business.
since it tends. as we have seen. to restrict
the consumption.