A photographic print of Food & Drink, Wines

Harry Draude, a wine porter, sweeps the street clean for the vintners - Picture by ARTHUR STEEL The Worshipful Company of Vintners had a little ceremony in the City of London yesterday. Wearing their robes, the Master, Wardens and Court walked from their hall to the church of St. James Garlickhythe, holding posies to protect them from City smells and preceded by a man sweeping the road. It was an impressive reprimand to anyone who may have supposed that wine is simply an elegant means of getting tight. Over 600 years the vintners have managed by consistent and discreet publicity to elevate alcohol to the level of an art with its own language and mystique. It has been a small but not able triumph, extending even to the bottle of Australian Burgundy selected at the local supermarket. And they move with the times, do the vintners. There used to be four sweepers. Industry - Food