Wine for Normal People
Wine for Normal People
Elizabeth Schneider
Ep 607: Wine Legends - The People Who Solved the Great French Wine Blight
36 minutes Posted May 20, 2026 at 12:00 am.
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Show notes

In this show rather than one wine legend, I talk about a team of people who saved the wine world from The Great French Wine Blight of the 1860s – 1890s, which turned out to be caused a destructive, insect called phylloxera that came to Europe on American grapevines. I discuss the contributions of eight people who worked together and across continents to collectively save the European grapevine, Vitis vinifera, from extinction. Today, we drink Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah all because of the efforts of these people. This podcast is the story of what they did and how they did it.

 

I discuss the contributions of:

  • Jules-Émile Planchon
  • Gaston Bazille
  • CV Riley
  • Hermann Jaeger
  • George Hussman
  • TV Munson
  • Leo Laliman
  • Pierra Viala

All played key roles in identifying the cause of vine death in France, and finding the solutions that would work best. 

 

This is an important story of wine legends all wine lovers should know about! Enjoy! 

 

 

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