The art of living in Australia

And while we are on the subject of labels, I must cer- tainly take exception to the unattracti\e character of those employed on the bottles of our Australian wines. There is no reason whatever why a little consideration should not be paid to the artistic sense in this respect. Our Avine mer- chants, it would appear, fail to understand the selling power w^hich belongs to the " get-up " of the label on a wine bottle. I feel sure this attractiveness has a great deal to do Avith the success of many products, notably in the case of the American preserved fruits. Some of these are labelled in a manner which is creditable in the highest degree — and what is more, from a practical point, it is no unimportant factor in their huge sale. AUSTRALIAN WINE. 239 Then again, there is that want of uniformity which Mr. James Smith has so ably descanted upon, and to which I have ah-eady refeiTed. It is bad enough to have a wine labelled Riesling, or whatever it may be, from one place differing entirely from a wine of the same name which comes from some other locality. But it is a far more serious defect when the wine of any particular place one year differs entirely from the same wine coming from the same locality at another. For the same variety of wine, of the same "\ineyard, thus to vary, year by year, is simply unpardonable. This must not be allowed to continue, for while it exists Australian wines will always be subject to reproach — a reproach, indeed, which cannot be explained away. And while dealing with these shortcomings I propose to speak of another matter, which is by no means unimportant. I refer to the size of the bottle. It has frequently happened that visitors to Australia ha\e said to me, " I should very " much like — indeed, I am anxious — to try yom' Australian " wines ; but unfortunately I cannot drink a whole bottle " at table, and I am unable to obtain less." Now, this is undoubtedly a grievance, and should be overcome in some way ; either by putting up a portion of our wines in smaller bottles, or else by making some arrangement so that a smaller quantity may be obtained. Since these lines were written, however, it is very pleasing to record the fact that one enterprising finn in Sydney has taken a highly commendable step in this very direction ; and already smaller bottles of Australian wine may be obtained for the low prices of Gd. and 9d. Up to this point I have made no remarks with regard to the knowledge of wine possessed by the majority of Austra- lians, and yet in many respects it is the most important of all. They are not called upon to pronounce an opinion 240 THE AST OF LIVING IN AUSTRALIA.