Evening star., 1934-03-04
The Wines of South America
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Nearly three centuries ago the wines
Of San Ignatio and Rosario were es-
teemed as rare and almost holy vim
tages In every court In Europe which
could obtain them. They were pro-
duced by the monks who built the
missions on e Canine Real in Lower
California. Missions and Canine alike
are ruined today, the monks exiled,
and no wines are produced in the ter
raced vineyards once irrigated by snow
water from the Sierras. But the art
Of wine making, pioneered by the pa
dres. has spread to South America
and there now are made some Of the
finest wines In the world.
In view Of tariff differences, of .
certain lack Of cooperation in fiscal
matters and allied affairs, 1t seems
probable that French wines will not
have the popularity in America they
once enjoyed. In fact In some cities
wine shops have reflected the senti-
ment by placing signs on their prem
ises proclaiming that no French wines
are sold there. Such q situation
strongly suggests that Americans may
turn to South American vtntages to
augment domestic production.
The wines Of Chile enjoy particular
acclaim. Although there was no i'm
portation of Chilean wines into the
United States before prohibition, the
new entente established by Secretary
OF State Hull at Montevideo last Au-
tumn Is depended upon to stimulate
trade relations which will include
wine. Although as yet unknown here,
all principal countries in Europe are
familiar with such red wines of Chile
as Cabernet, Merlot and Cot and the
white Muscatel and Semillon.
Viticulture In Chile dates far back,
for Padre Francisco de Caravantes in
troduced vines not many years after
the discovery Of America. There were
difficulties in establishing an industry
at first, however, because it was feared
that colonial production would injure
Spanish exports. A royal decree cur
tailed the enterprise.
So well adapted to viticulture Is the
soil Of Chile and SO favorable the eli
mate that the industry could not be
suppressed and by the beginning Of
the last century it was well estab-
lished. The American Of today who
must pay not only q high price for
the product but, in addition, heavy
taxes which run the total cost to a
substantial figure may feel a certain
wonderment at the prices current in
Chile q little more than q century
ago.
Government Interest In Viticulture.
Just Q century ago French vines
were introduced. The earliest vines
came either from the Spanish main
land or from the Canary Islands but.
as the industry was promising SO well.
French transplantings were tried and
with conspicuous success.
According to Carlos de Ia Barra,
commercial secretary Of the Chilean
embassy at Washington, there were,
about a century ago, some 10000, 900
vines in Chile. Prices gradually rose
but, even with a Chilean tax, cents
would buy q bottle of very fine wine.
Today, says Senor de Ia Barra. Chile
has 100 900 acres in vineyards and
the annual production is some 88,000,-
900 gallons. France, Holland and
Switzerland are the principal Euro
pean importers of Chilean wines, but
some Is handled by all European ma
tions.
The quality Of the wines is main
tanned on . high standard by a sys-
tenn Of government supervision. A