Vivaismo Viticolo

The World Nursery Industry

GIANFRANCO TEMPESTA

MONICA FIORILO

INDEX

VINE NURSERY

1. 1. THE WORLD NURSERY INDUSTRY

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In Viticulture presenting the world vine areas, the different kinds of viticulture were differentiated according to the use of the grapes produced: some countries for dried grapes, others for table grapes, others still for wine grapes and, lastly, nations with all three sectors.

On various occasions, we emphasized that the value of wine has a symbolic basis and is, therefore, connected to Christian culture and values.

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These explain the prevalence of wine production and export flows from the Mediterranean area towards regions linked to this culture, especially northern and central Europe, the Americas, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The vine spread from the original Caucasian-Mediterranean cradle to the rest of the world via emigration routes. Therefore, Spain took its grape varieties to Latin America and California; England adopted French varieties in its colonies and so on.

This exchange of varieties between culturally similar nations is still evident when analyzing the flows of nursery material exported from Europe towards Latin America and within the EU itself; the renewal of East European viticulture, after the collapse of the COMECON, is an example of this.

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There are viticultural areas where this Mediterranean influence has not been achieved, such as Chile that, isolated by the formidable barrier of the Andes and by iron sanitary controls, has still not suffered the destruction of phylloxera; or California that, devastated by phylloxera in the 1980s (also due to the wrong choice of rootstock) and with numerous problems linked to viral and bacterial diseases, has promoted its own nursery industry thus preventing the introduction of foreign material.

Italy and France currently export about 40 million rootlings all over the world (mainly grafted); thirty million for the former and ten million for the latter.

Some Islamic countries are trying make a return to viticulture for wine grapes, which was abandoned when European colonization came to an end, in order to meet the demands of tourists staying there (Morocco, Tunisia).

Other countries, such as China, are focusing on local production in response to a category of consumers who, having reached a privileged economic and social status, are turning to Vitis vinifera wines as a real alternative to drinks called “wine” but not made from wine grapes.

California There are viticultural areas where this Mediterranean influence has not achieved because they promoted its local nursery industry.

The prevention of the introduction of foreign material is an aid in the sanitary controls. It is the case of Chile that, isolated by the formidable barrier of the Andes has still not suffered the destruction of phylloxera. Instead, California that was devastated by phylloxera in the 1980s (also due to the wrong choice of rootstock) and with numerous problems linked to viral and bacterial diseases. Both started an iron protection policy.

Italy and France currently export about 55 million rootlings all over the world (mainly grafted); forty million for the former and fifteen million for the latter.

Other countries, such as China, are focusing on local production in response to a category of consumers who, having reached a privileged economic and social status, are turning to Vitis vinifera's wines as a real alternative to drinks called “wine” but not made from wine grapes.

Table grape varieties are a different story; there is an increased interest in seedless grapes from consumers, and therefore vinegrowers, and this kind of viticulture is expanding on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.

Table 1.1 European Nursery Production and 1.2 Europe, rootstock and scion mother plants shows the development and importance of the vine nursery sector in each European country.