1934 Cocktail Bill Boothby's World Drinks and how to mix them

WINES

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for consumption by the peasant class and very seldom finding its way into export trade. On the other hand, California, except for the very finest French vintages, runs her European cousin a close race on quality and quantity of marketable wines. For each of the mother country's famous labels, this renowned state has pro duced a similar type. This product, in a great many instances, is grown on imported vines which are tended, frequently, by the very same persons who tended the mother vines in Europe. For the average palate, California wines are sufficiently fine. They are, in their better varieties, endowed with full body and bouquet. The expert refinement of the epicure only could detect a difference. They are good enough, and to the nine hundred ninety-nine, superb. Indeed, California's main handi cap, in the race for supremacy, is that, having been blessed with much richer soil than are the wine provinces of France, she is thus unable to produce that ultra-dry product so dear to the palate of the epicure. As to the proper selection of wines for any given event this publisher hesitates. Taste differs greatly and that which one person raves over another finds mediocre. However, as a de cision must be arrived at, let us approach it in this manner: It depends entirely upon the "class" of the affair being planned. If intended to be a "knockout," the very finest French importa tions, unquestionably, should be placed before the honored guests. At least two whites, two reds and a vintage champagne, together with an imported dry Sherry and a real Cognac, of old age, should be served. If slightly less "distingue," the champagne, as well as one white and one red, may well be omitted. For the other extreme a gallon of white and one of red would get by nicely. General rules laid down for wine seiwice require that whites be served with light soups, white fish, oysters, other entrees and with baked ham, turkey, chicken and desserts. If two be selected the lighter one should be served first. These same