Quote:
Originally Posted by Boreas
French wine can be very, very good, the best in the world, IMO,
John
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Interestingly enough, most of that French wine comes from Missouri grapes (at least the roots)
"In the mid-19th century, the phylloxera louse destroyed much of the Vitis vinifera grape crop in France. Missouri’s state entomologist, Charles Riley, found that American rootstocks were resistant to the pest. He directed sending millions of rootstocks to France, to which their grape varieties could be grafted. This saved the French wine industry. The city of Montpellier erected a statue in Riley's honor, because of the significance of his work."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_wine
I lived in Hermann, MO from when I was 12 until I was 21. Worked for the Dierberg family (First Bank...) at their wonderful
Hermannhof Winery, Festhalle and the vineyards through high school.
Not many folks know that some Germans from Missouri saved the French wine industry.......