Grapevine Diseases

In the middle of the 19th century, devastating attacks of powdery mildew blighted the vineyards of the Azorean islands. Farmers in the region opted to replant with species from America, which are more resistant to the disease. Whilst the new American species were more able to combat the powdery mildew, they were not resistant to phylloxera, which was a devastating blow to the aspirations of Azorean producers until the beginning of the 20th century.