Wine, the vine and the cellar / [Thomas George Shaw].

  • Shaw, Thomas George.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Wine, the vine and the cellar / [Thomas George Shaw]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    499/532 (page 479)
    XII. Board of Trade Returns, 1863. The Board of Trade Returns for the first six months of this year (1863) being- now published, I subjoin an esti- mate for the twelve months, calculating the latter six months on the ratio of the first. The progress of the trade in wine, since the reduction of duty, is seen to be very unsatisfactory; but I would refer to the arguments in the body of the work, and to copies of letters published while the subject was under discussion, to prove that the differential rates rendered such a result inevitable. It would, however, be unfair to omit reference to another very important cause. I allude to the enormous rise in the shipping prices of port and sherry, which still constitute nearly 70 per cent, of the whole consumption. The reduction from the former rate of 5s. 9d. per gallon to 2s. 6cLis 19^. on a pipe of port, and 181. on a butt of sherry; but the increased cost of the former during the last ten years may be called from 201. to 30^. per pipe, and of tbe latter from 251. to 407 per butt. Formerly, the use of sherry was almost exclusively among ourselves, but it is now a favourite wine throughout the world, and the demand exceeds the present power of supply. In a circular of one of the principal shippers, dated June 15, 1863, it is stated, ‘ It is nine years since there has been an average vintage. Scarcely any wine was pro- duced in 1855 or 1856, and the six following years did not give three vintages. The present year promises an abundant one ; but this cannot influence prices for years to come. The demand for old sherry, existing now in very small quantities, is enormous; hence, our quotations are likely to be supported and increased.’ Perhaps a few houses do keep up quality in relation to prices; but I am not singular in thinking that it is now