It’s a story today widely told: When the phylloxera epidemic began to decimate the vines of Europe, the Spanish wine region Rioja stepped up and began providing world-class wines for the European market.
Phylloxera is an aphid-like insect, a carrier for vine disease. When it first struck in France in the mid-19th century, growers were devastated. Years later, the French would save their vineyards thanks to disease-resistant vines that were developed in the U.S. But it would take decades before the French wine industry returned to its former glory. In the meantime, growers in Rioja stepped up to fill the European demand for fine wine.
Wine Wednesday
complimentary
- 2020 Muga Rojo Reserva “unfiltered”
- 2023 Muga Blanco
- 2023 Cune Monopole Viura
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