| Wine-growers across the globe are familiar with | | | | Various researches were conducted to address |
| the great wine plague, the Phylloxera vastatrix, a | | | | the problem. It was discovered that aphis do not |
| pest that attacked the roots of vines during the | | | | attack vines grafted on an American rootstock. |
| middle of the nineteenth century. Phylloxeras are | | | | The only defense against this destructive aphis is |
| small, pale yellow sap-sucking insects that feed on | | | | through the flooding of the vineyard. These |
| the roots of the grapevines. These insects cause | | | | insects do not like sandy soils, thus it was |
| the deformations of wines, as well as, cutting off | | | | observed that vineyards located in sandy areas |
| of nutrients and water in the plant. | | | | continue with their rootstock. |
| The Phylloxera vastatrix was first reported in | | | | The use of resistant rootstock was developed by |
| southern Rhone region of France in 1863. It is | | | | Charles Valentine Riley alongside J.E. Planchon with |
| though to have originated from the North | | | | T.V. Munson. This involves the grafting of the Vitis |
| American vinestock imported to Europe. During | | | | vinifera scion into the roots of a resistant Vitis |
| that time, there was a 84.5 million hectoliters | | | | labrusca species. There is a subtle difference |
| decline in the total wine produced. The expanse of | | | | between a wine that is grafted or ungrafted. |
| the destruction is so great that it is estimated | | | | Grapes from an ungrafted vine produces juice, |
| that around two-thirds and nine-tenths of all the | | | | thus the wine produced is fuller and softer, |
| European vineyards were destroyed. | | | | featuring more variation of taste and bouquet. |