Phylloxera in Spain

Phylloxera is a disease caused by the insect of that name that parasitize lives. Apparently, it comes from the U.S. and arrived in Europe affecting, first, Britain (here so very localized) and France around 1863; shortly after, the problem affected Portugal and from 1877 to 1878 the first cases appeared in Spain, although it wasn´t until the late nineteenth century when the plague affected our country most severely.

The typical Mediterranean trilogy: cereal, vine and olive crops essentially rainfed land, have made up an ancestral agriculture set in Spain, whose historical development has gone through various vicissitudes.

We cannot deny that our agriculture suffered from excessive deficits but overall, for the cultivation of the vine the influence that the phylloxera plague had and its the arrival in France  made Spanish wine occupy a leading position in the  international market  for ten years, between 1882 and 1892. Shortly after, the effect of phylloxera will be very negative for our wine and the decrease in exports will be compensated  by putting other products on  the market such as oranges from Valencia.

 1.-  What benefits and vitamins do grapes have?

- vitamin B6 y B12
- calcium and phosphoru    

-iron and magnesium  

- water, sugar, tannin and vitamin C

 2.- What main uses does grape production have?

- table grapes and grape to make wine
- livestock feeding
- bakery
- Pharmacy industry

3.- How long have the grapes been grown in the Iberian Peninsula?

- From the time of Al-Andalus
- From the Paleolithic
- Since the Enlightenment
- Strabo, III, 2, mentioned that, in pre-Roman times, from Turdetania (current western Andalusia) was exported, "wheat, plenty of wine and oil ...".

The introduction of these crops and intensification of production that eventually made exports possible may be attributed to the colonizers: Phoenicians and Greeks.

4.- When does grape harvest take place?

- In January
- In June
- Depending on the regions. In our area is carried out in September
- At Christmas