The French are a strange people. A few weeks ago they all trooped to the polls and voted to turn their government over to the most right-wing group in the country. But in this strange land, you have to win twice to take office, and when they voted the second time, only a week later, they voted to turn their government over to the most left-wing group in the country.
It's like they decided to say “Je rigole!” which is French for “Just kidding.”
In America, you have to wait four years before you can do that.
Of course, if America hadn’t pulled their derrieres out of the fire – not once, but twice – the French might never have made it out of the 20th Century. We went over there in 1917, and again, hip deep in the Normandy surf, in 1944.
Now don’t think I’m completely disdainful of French culture. They have some very fine chefs, and are the best at styling a green bean. Also, their fries are delicious, especially the ones at Cinq Hommes. And their wine – c’est magnifique! – which is French for c’est magnifique.
But, my friends, the truth is France might not have any wine at all if it weren’t for the time America saved their butts way back before WW’s II or I were even thought of.
The invader this time was not the German army, but an insect, an aphid called phylloxera, which during the late 19th century suddenly showed up in Europe and starting chewing on the roots of grapevines, killing the plants and causing the loss of countless vineyards. The whole European wine industry was threatened. Yes, it wasn’t just French wines that were threatened, German vines were attacked, too. But nobody much cared about them. I mean, who drinks German wine anyway?
But French wine! Sacre bleu! Something must be done! And something was.
You see, if you take a grapevine, cut if off above the ground and graft it (the cutting is called a “scion”) onto the rootstock of another grapevine, the resulting fruit will bear the characteristics of the scion. So you can plant the grafted root down in the ground and it will produce wonderful Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon or whatever brand of fancy French grape you want, no matter what kind of grape the rootstock is. That may not be fair, but that’s how Mother Nature designed it.
Traditional Muscadine Grapes
Of course, in order for the scheme to work in the case in point, the rootstock has to be immune to phylloxera, but mirabile dictu, guess what kind of vine roots are just that. Why, good old American Muscadines from North Carolina and thereabouts. They eat phylloxera for breakfast! Problem solved. Wine disaster averted. Champagne for all!
Yes, the good old tough and hardy American Muscadine grape, like the Doughboys and G.I.’s of later generations, saved France from disaster. U.S.A. U.S.A.
Now I wouldn’t want you to think that the only thing Muscadines are good for is providing rootstock for French scions. Muscadine grapes are a very, very special fruit in their own right. The wine may not please the discerning palate, but Muscadines are the most healthful grape of all, a super food, to use the modern parlance, just brimming with anti-oxidants.
Razzmatazz Seedless Thin-skinned Muscadines
Here at Union Grove Farm, we specialize in brand-spanking new varietals that, unlike traditional Muscadines, are seedless and have thinner skins. That makes them just about the perfect table grape.
If you want to learn more about our amazing grapes, and the amazing regenerative farming process we are using to produce them in sustainable, eco-friendly ways, come visit. We give tours every Saturday, and you’ll see row after row of our vines, along with our sheep, worms and other wonderful stuff, and hear from experts about the whole process. Just click here to get started.
