History of Wine reveals a forgotten truth: Europe’s greatest wines survived because of roots from America.
In this History of Wine documentary, phylloxera devastates France while American rootstock becomes the solution many initially reject. History of Wine follows the story from Missouri to Texas, where American scientists and grape growers help rescue a collapsing industry.
History of Wine also reveals how phylloxera reshaped terroir and helped drive the creation of France’s AOC system. By the end of History of Wine, you’ll understand why American rootstock still sits beneath many of Europe’s most famous vineyards.
Timeline:
00:00: France’s vineyards begin to die
02:00: The crisis spreads
03:24: The enemy beneath the soil
04:21: A disease crosses the Atlantic
08:51: Charles Riley and the Missouri solution
10:43: Why France resisted
12:30: The disaster of 1878
13:24: France accepts grafting
14:48: The search leads to Texas
15:07: Thomas Munson enters the story
16:24: Vitis berlandieri
19:59: The terroir controversy
24:13: How the crisis shaped AOC
28:01: The truth beneath every vine
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4 Comments
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this one, a like and subscribe really helps me keep making stories like this. Appreciate you being here.
I'm curious- did you already know that so much French wine is grown on American rootstock? What surprised you most in this story?
Listening from Watervliet Michigan United States
8:26 , did termites eat away at the entire field?