This article explains just how much fear and hatred the vinifera world of Europe feels towards modern grape varieties. The animosity is the result of a century of carefully-fanned flames of prejudice. Modern varities of grapes (hybrids) are the answer to Europe's dirty little secret: Growers there are killing their vineyard workers and sterilizing their soil (killing earthworms and beneficial nematodes) with nasty sprays for fungus. But the modern grapes don't need fungal sprays--due to their partial American heritage, they have resistance!
And the flavors are good, too. I win blue ribbons with these new varieties.
But Europe has millennia of well-honored tradition, and resists change.
Let's all please drop the prejudice and the hate, and start saving lives.
(photo credit Google images)
