In an amazing opportunity, a group of Texas Agriculture and Natural Resources agents were able to participate in a fantastically organized Viticulture and Enology Tour while at a conference in Denison, Texas.
The first stop on our tour was the the T.V. Munsun Center at Grayson College. This center offers one of the world's greatest viticulture and enology centers. Viticulture, the study of the cultivation of grapevines, and enology, the study of actually making the good stuff (wine), are quickly growing fields and makes tons of sense from an economic stand point if one realizes the profitability of such a value added product. This realization is quickly leading to more smaller vinyards and winery locations all across the state of Texas, in addition to the consumer's appreciation of locally grown and produced products. The center at Grayson College, is named for the "Texas Grape Man," T.V. Munsun, who is credited with the salvation of the French Wine industry in the late 1800's. Munsun was able to accomplish this because of his utilization of the native grapevine varieties found in the United States. Munsun traveled the North American Continent collecting and identifying the vast flora he found, more specifically-- grapes. When devestation in the form of a fungus attacked the French grapevines, wiping out 80% of the industry, Munsun was contacted. Munsun was able to send hardy North American root stock (the root system of the plants) and these were grafted together with the better quality grape vines. This essentially gave this new hybridized plant the strong and sustainable root system of the native plants and the finer quality of grape from the European plants. Talk about some positive GMO impact! So as you enjoy your evening glass of vino, give a quick thanks to the Texas Grape Man, because without his early ingenuity and exploration of genetically modifying weaker organisms, your glass might be empty! Grayson College Viticulture and Enology Center
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