Ep 607: Wine Legends - The People Who Solved the Great French Wine Blight

Ep 607: Wine Legends - The People Who Solved the Great French Wine Blight

Author: Elizabeth Schneider May 20, 2026 Duration: 36:30

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! 

 

 

Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!

www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

_______________________________________________________________

 

Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access.  They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! 

 

To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

 

 


Elizabeth Schneider hosts Wine for Normal People, a podcast built on the idea that you can enjoy wine deeply without the pretension. It’s for anyone who finds the world of wine intriguing but is put off by the jargon and gatekeeping. Here, conversations about wine are just that-conversations. Elizabeth approaches topics with a fun and straightforward perspective, aiming to spark genuine excitement and help you discover more interesting bottles to enjoy. Roughly half of the episodes feature guests, but these aren’t formal interviews. Instead, they’re relaxed, educational discussions with passionate friends from the wine world, all people Elizabeth knows personally or through close connections. This creates a uniquely authentic and comfortable atmosphere, as if you’re listening in on a chat between friends who happen to know a lot about what’s in your glass. The focus is always on practical knowledge and shared enthusiasm, stripping away the snobbery to make wine feel accessible and endlessly fascinating. Tune into this podcast to hear honest talk about regions, grapes, and tasting, all designed to make your own journey with wine more rewarding and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 98

Wine for Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Ep 608: The Grape Miniseries -- The Barbera Refresh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:08
Barbera is one of Italy's most widely planted red grapes and an essential part of Piemontese wine culture. It is native to the Monferrato hills, where it has been grown for centuries and important to the overall wine lan…
Ep 604: Six Alternatives to Expensive Wines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
This time I give you six wine regions that make very expensive wines and then provide ideas of less expensive bottles that you could sub in when you don't want to splurge. From Champagne to Barolo, I give you some ideas…
Ep 603: The Veneto Region of Italy (2026 Update) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
I haven't given an update to the Veneto region in more than a decade. With an upcoming Patron trip to the region, I think it's high time! Veneto is in northeastern Italy and is famed for wines like Prosecco, Valpolicella…
Ep 602: Wine Legends - Émile Peynaud, The Father of Modern Enology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:10
This is the start of a new series, suggested by Patron Keith S.! Thank you, Keith! I'll cover people who have made a huge difference in the wine world —figures whose contributions have shaped how wine is made, understood…
Ep 600: Nine Short Wine Stories -- How WFNP Listeners Got Into Wine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:27
600 episodes of WFNP! I am grateful to you for listening, for reading the book, for learning with me and gracefully accepting the changes over the years, and I'm especially grateful to my sponsors, guests, and travel par…