^12 Journal of Agrictiliure. [8 May. 1908. 



raisins, and table gra])es, but each of these may be still further divided. 

 For example, the shipping of fresh grapes packed in granulated cork from 

 Almeria and Gigona is a very different matter from that of table grapes 

 for local consumption. Then, again, as regards raisins, the dessert raisin 

 industry of Malaga differs both as regards methods of culture and treat- 

 ment of fruit, from the pudding raisin industry of Denia (what we know 

 as Valencias or Lexias). 



As regards wine we have a still greater variet\ of jjroducts, few other 

 countries turning out so many distinct types of wine as Spain dees. 



Though chiefiv known abroad for the sherry grown at Jerez, in the ex- 

 treme south of Spain, this constitutes but a small proportion of the total 

 wine production of the country. The bulk consi.sts of common beverage 

 wines similar to the \"ni Ordinaire of France — light dry wine, either red 

 or white, which is the common drink of the people; forj in Spain, as in 

 France, Italv, and other Latin countries, wine is a food and not a luxury, 

 a small quantit\ being regularly taken with each meal (early breakfast 

 excei)ted) 1)\ all classes of society from the highe.st to the low-est, in the 

 same wav as we drink tea in Australia. 



in Australia we are not a wine drinking people and we do not realize 

 the importance of this class of wine in Southern Europe. As in France, so 

 also in Spain, this class of wine is usually consumed before it is eighteen 

 mi tilths old. It is readv for use early, in the same way as cider, and does 

 not improw with age sufficiently to be worth maturing, nor would 

 maturation be possible at the low price — yd. to 9d. per gallon — at which 

 this wine must be sold wholesale in order to place it within the reach of the 

 lower classes. Tt is this Vin Ordinaire which forms the bulk of the wine 

 production of Spain. It is produced throughout the country varying slightly 

 in t\ pe according to district. The province of La Mancha turns out enor- 

 mous quantities of this type of wine, as also manv other portions of Spain. 

 In La Mancha the best known centres are Val-de-Penas and Manzanares. 



Xext in importance came the heavy blending wines of Alicante, Arragon, 

 and other districts — Avines of 24 and 2^ per cent, of proof spirit and pos- 

 sessing much color and body. Enormous quantities of these wines were 

 shipped annuallv to France in the days of short production which followed 

 the destruction of French vineyards bv })hylloxera. Now that France has 

 reconstituted her vineyards and can produce all the wine she requires this 

 trade has died out altogether, to the great misfortune of the Spanish 

 growlers who produced these strong blending W'ines. 



Then we have table wines — vino de mesa in Spanish — light dry wines 

 of sufficient qualitv to be worth maturing and lx)ttling. Of these the l>e.st 

 are certainly those of La Rioja, a large district in the north of Old Castile, 

 of which Haro and Logrono are the chief viticultural centres. Good wines 

 of this tvpe are also bottled in Val-de-Penas and Manzanares, but Lsi Rioja 

 holds the palm in Spain for Avines of this tvpe. Manv of the.se wines 

 compare favorably with the cheaper F.rench clarets. Vinevard owners do 

 r.ll in their power to make them as similar as possible. Most of the Rioja 

 cellarmen are recruited in Bordeaux, and the wine is made and handled on 

 exactlv similar lines to those practised in Bordeaux cellars. 



Xext in order of importance so far as quantity is concerned, luit easilv 

 first as regards quality, comes the wane of Jerez, San Lucar, and Montilla — 

 the sherrv of commerce and the chief glory of Spanish viticulture. These 

 magnificent wines and the special treatment bv which they are obtained 

 demand a separate report. We need onlv briefly mention them here. 



Near Jerez several special Avines are made, such as the Mu.scat of 

 Chippiona and the Tintilla of Rota, in Avhirh a considerable trade used to 



