¥In 1492 Spain emerges as a
united Christian
country and Columbus discovers the New World.
¥But after a couple hundred
years of wars the
influence and quality of Spanish wine suffers. By the middle of the 19th century even Rioja
is having trouble
selling wine outside of Spain and South America.
¥Then the big killers,
phylloxera and powdery mildew strike, but move slowly through SpainÕs sparsely-planted regions, and give the
French time to
arrive with the cures. The French also bring their grape varieties, the new hygienic methods of
Louis Pasteur,
and many traditions, including barrel ageing, and the Champagne method.
¥The DO (Denominacion de
Origen) system is
introduced in 1926.
¥Civil War. 2nd World War.
