Phylloxera
A tiny aphid-like insect (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) that attacks and destroys the roots of Vitis vinifera vines, devastating European vineyards in the 19th century.
In depth
Phylloxera is native to North America, where native vine species (Vitis rupestris, Vitis riparia) evolved alongside the pest and developed natural resistance. When phylloxera reached Europe — first detected in the Rhône Valley around 1863 — the European Vitis vinifera vines had no resistance and were killed within a few years of infection.
The insect attacks vine roots in its soil-dwelling form, forming galls that disrupt the uptake of water and nutrients. Infected vines decline over several years and eventually die. By the 1880s, phylloxera had devastated vineyards across France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and beyond. The financial and cultural impact was catastrophic.
The practical solution, still in use today, was grafting: European Vitis vinifera vines are grafted onto American rootstocks that are resistant to phylloxera. The rootstock provides the root system; the scion (European vine) provides the fruit and therefore the wine character. Almost all commercial vineyards worldwide use grafted vines.
A small number of vineyards remain ungrafted — these exist in very sandy soils (where phylloxera cannot travel) or on isolated islands. Mosel slate soils and some Chilean vineyards are notable examples of surviving ungrafted vines.
Related exam topics
Frequently asked questions
- How was the phylloxera crisis solved?
- The solution was grafting European Vitis vinifera vines onto phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks. The rootstock (American vine species) provides the root system; the European variety provides the grape and wine character. This solution was established in the 1880s and remains the standard practice globally. Virtually all commercial vineyards today use grafted vines, with exceptions in very sandy soils where phylloxera cannot travel.
Related terms
Practise questions on this topic
Use Vinlecta to practise exam-style questions that test your knowledge of phylloxera and related topics.