Phylloxera 101

What is phylloxera and why do we care?

Phylloxera is a almost microscopic pale-yellow insect that feeds on root and leaf sap. The deformations that they produce slowly cut off the flow of nutrients and water to Vitis vinifera grapes.

Since Phylloxera is native to North America, American grape varieties have developed protection mechanisms such as sticky sap that clogs the mouth of the Phylloxera nymphs when they tried to chomp down. Even if the nymph manages to chow down, the American roots cover them in a protective layering so the cut doesn't lead to fungal or bacterial infections.

Phylloxera is a winemaker house name because it almost led to the extinction of European Vitis vinifera grapes. In the late 1800s when a naive botanist brought American roots to Europe, Phylloxera hitched a ride. After being planted in European soil the insect took off chomping down on unprepared and unprotected Vitis vinifera plants. Supposedly the majority of the European wine crop was lost until they started grafting onto American rootstock such as Vitis Riparia.