Texas Grape Man
Texan, Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913), of Denison saved the vineyards of France from phylloxera in 1868. The disease destroyed most of the grapevines in France, decimating their wine industry. Munson, known
as T.V., was a renowned horticulturist with expertise in viticulture. The
French government requested his help. He developed a phylloxera-
resistant rootstock from native Texas vinifera. He shipped cuttings to
France, which were grafted onto French vines. The hardy rootstock of
Texas grapevines thrived in the French soil, therefore saving the vineyards
of France.
The French government sent a delegation to Denison to present T.V. the
“French Legion of Honor” in 1888. Cognac, France and Denison, Texas
became sister cities. In France, monuments were erected in his honor. One
hundred years later, the T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Center was
established on the campus of Grayson College in Sherman, Texas.
For more information on T.V. Munson, I recommend Grape Man of
Texas, Authors Roy E. Renfro, Jr., and Sherrie S. McLeRoy.
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#texaswinehistory #phylloxera #grapevines #horticulturist #viticulture
#cognacfrance #frenchwine #frenchlegionofhonor #grapemanoftexas