Back in the 19th century, the greatest threat to the wines of Europe was a microscopic aphid called Phylloxera vastatrix - or "dry leaf devastator" - the focus of The Botanist and The Vintner: How Wine Was Saved for the World by Christy Campbell. The aphid appeared in the southern Rhone in 1865, hitching a ride across the Atlantic with some pest-resistant native American vines sent from New York to a local wine merchant.
It went on to destroy most of the vineyards in France before spreading through the Continent and even beyond. The hero of his story is botanist Jules-Emile Planchon, who identified the pest and discovered that the only way to overcome the aphid was to graft French vines onto a variety of American rootstock, st. george from Texas.
That's right, y'all. The next time you enjoy a glass of wine tip your hat to Texas too.
If you're interested in learning more about the book, Super Chef Blog has collected reviews, articles and links for us.
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