From the beginning of the 1880s, the American botanist Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913) was intensively engaged in researching vine diseases and determining the ideal soil for the various grape varieties. He established a vine nursery with numerous experimental plots in Denison, Texas, in order to carry out experiments on the different soils and numerous wild vines there, with the additional advantage of different climatic conditions for analyses. In the wake of the European phylloxera disaster, the French Ministry of Agriculture sent a delegation to the USA to find suitable rootstocks for grafting.
In addition to resistance to phylloxera, importance was also attached to compatibility with the calcareous soil often found in Europe, which is far less common in America's wine-growing regions. The head of the delegation Pierre Viala (1859-1936) consulted Munson. The ideal vines were finally found in the limestone mountains near San Antonio. They were vines of the species Vitis cinerea var. helleri - formerly Vitis berlandieri (lime vine), but also Vitis riparia. Munson was instrumental in identifying the ideal rootstocks. He was also extensively active as a breeder of new grape varieties and created, among others, the new varieties Albania, America, Armlong, Bailey, Black Herbemont, Brilliant, Bush, Delago, Ellen Scott, Estella, Gold Coin, Governor Ross, Headlight, Hexamer, Hopkins, Kiowa, Lomanto, Palermo (1), President, Profusion, Quintinia, Rommel, Ruby (1), Universal, Waubeck and Xenia (2).
The French government awarded Thomas Volney Munson the title "Chevalier du Mérite Agricole" and the Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1899. The newly created vine species Vitis bourquina (botanical name Vitis x bourquina Munson) was named after him. Munson was friends with the Swiss-born breeder Hermann Jaeger (1844-1895), who named his creation "Jaeger 70" (breeding no.) in his honour as Munson. Munson's work was a major inspiration to US grape breeder Elmer Swenson (1913-2004). See also a list under winegrowing personalities.
Munson: Vintage Texas - Texas Thru & Thru
Grapes: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
