Description
Book SynopsisChronicles 150 years of scientific warfare against the grapevine's worst enemy: phylloxera. This title describes the biological and economic disaster that unfolded when a tiny, root-sucking insect invaded the south of France in the 1860s, spread throughout Europe, and journeyed across oceans to Africa, South America, Australia, and California.
Trade Review"Fascinating... [Gale] brings fresh insights to the tale." The Economist "Explores the crisis with fresh details and stunning insights. Nominated for a 2012 IACP Award, Dying on the Vine is an excellent and immendsely readable history of wine and its continuing transformation in the wake of an environmental disaster." Zester Daily "[A] fine reference for the botanically inclined and researcher alike. So why dwell on a plague that happened almost 150 years ago? Because it is still with us, waiting to mutate, as it did in California in the 1980s, eventually destroying thousands of acres of vines." Wine Spectator "It should be read not just by curious wine drinkers, but also by those with a serious interest in the history of plant disease." -- James Simpson Agricultural History "Describes for the first time in great detail the worldwide grape blight of the late 19th century." College & Research Libraries News "A fantastic book and was a great read from cover to cover... If you're at all interested in the history of wine, ecology, entomology, or just overall good writing, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book!" The Academic Wino "A fascinating read for anyone interested in grapevines and/or the philosophy of science." -- G. S. Howell Choice
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Disaster Strikes: "All your vines are fatally condemned to disappear, Monsieur" 2. La Defense: Sand, Submersion, and Sulfiding 3. La Reconstitution 4. The Underground Battle: Grafting on American Rootstock 5. Phylloxera Makes the European Grand Tour 6. The Bug Goes South: New Venues, Same Story 7. The Old Americans, or How the Fox Conquered Europe 8. Phylloxera Breaks Out (Twice) in California Conclusion Appendix A. Life Cycle of Phylloxera Appendix B. American Wild Grape Species Appendix C. Old American Varieties Glossary Bibliography Index
