False story

In the Sunday (April 9, 2000) edition, under Travel & Leisure you published a story Tropical winery contends with fungi, religious riots, which misreported that Hatten Wines of Bali is "The only winery in the world's largest Muslim nation ..."

Perhaps your reporter imbibed too much of the Hatten grape, for his story is absolutely untrue. Banyu Sakti sells a drinkable (if not fameux) red wine called Indigo, made from Isabella grapes from the North Bali. Hatten Wines is not the only winery in Indonesia, it is not even the only winery in Bali.

In addition to being false, your story intimated that Hatten Wines in Bali is located amid a Muslim population -- again false, for, as even The Jakarta Post should know, Bali is overwhelmingly Hindu in religion.

I suggest that the Post sticks to reporting from Jakarta if it cannot tell truth from fiction in Bali.

WILLIS W. JOURDIN JR.

Visiting Professor of Law

Udayana University

Denpasar, Bali

Note: The story was picked from the AP news agency.

-- Editor