Grape History

By the mid-19th century, French wine had become a global powerhouse, contributing over 15% of the country’s federal tax revenue. But in 1865, a tiny root louse called phylloxera began destroying France’s vineyards. Desperate for help, French authorities turned to American botanists, including Munson — renowned for his groundbreaking work documenting native grape species across Texas and the Southwest.

Munson identified and shipped specific grapevine varieties that were naturally resistant to phylloxera. French growers grafted their traditional vines onto these tough Texas rootstocks and crossbred them with local varieties. This strategy stopped the blight in its tracks and preserved iconic French grapes like cabernet, merlot, pinot noir, and chardonnay. Even today, more than a century later, many French vineyards still rely on rootstocks descended from those Texas natives.