PHYLLOXERA III
The subject is vast, but it is generally believed that the first report of phylloxera in France occurred at the end of 1867 in the department of #Gard. The disease quickly spread to other wine-growing regions in the south of France, before spreading to the rest of the country. At the time, research methods and communication between winegrowers were limited, which contributed to the rapid spread of the insect.
At first, winemakers and scientists alike were puzzled by the nature of the disease and how to combat it. Several methods were tried without success, such as flooding vineyards or using various chemicals. The idea of a soil-borne disease was a common belief before the true cause was identified.
The disease spreads through the southern wine-growing regions, then to the rest of France and other European countries. It was reported in #Burgundy as early as 1875, and was well established in the Côte d'or on July 17, 1878, at a place called de l'Ormeau in #Meursault.
Many experts and specialists have taken an interest in this plague. Botanist Jules-Émile Planchon, a professor at Montpellier, is often credited with discovering and characterizing this parasite. Across the Atlantic, entomologist Charles Valentine Riley, with the help of American industrialist Thomas Volney Munson, confirmed that phylloxera-resistant vines originated in North America. They recommended the use of American rootstocks for European vineyards.
By the end of the 1880s, grafting onto resistant rootstocks had become common practice. Thus began the slow process of restoring French vineyards.
The majority of European vines were replanted with grafted plants, and little by little, vineyards began to recover. The replanting process took several decades, and it wasn't until the early 20th century that the wine industry began to fully recover from the devastating effects of this crisis.
The phylloxera crisis was a landmark event in the history of viticulture, profoundly changing mindsets and vine-growing methods.
It had a lasting impact on wine production worldwide. In France, historians and economists now estimate that the disease reduced the French vineyard by around 30%. It was also catastrophic for the rural fabric of France, a country where grape-growing was the norm in regions where it is virtually non-existent today.
Entire territories saw their main means of subsistence wiped out. Wine production plummeted, triggering a structural economic crisis on the farm
#burgundy #wine #vine #phylloxera #crisis
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