A vineyard odyssey: the organic fight to save wine from the ravages of nature

Description

A Vineyard Odyssey is a fascinating saga of wine that takes the reader on a travelogue of the many hazards that lie along the journey from vine to bottle. John Kiger tracks the nefarious denizens of the vineyard world--the host of animals, insects, fungi, bacteria, and viruses that are capable of sabotaging a promising vintage right under the nose of an unsuspecting grower. Highlighting the many hazards of nature that lie hidden in any vintage, Kiger follows an organic approach to cultivation, explaining how natural and biological controls can conquer or at least contain these vineyard saboteurs. This is the unique story of a winegrower and an organic philosophy that guides the annual struggle to coax great wine from a steep hillside and a few thousand vines, vividly bringing to life the hard-fought battles behind the wines we savor.;If I'd only known then what I know now -- The origin of our affection and its peculiar afflictions -- It's personal: man versus fungus -- Revenge of the fungi -- If it's not one thing, it's another -- Some things get better with age -- The winegrower's challenge -- Going organic, or something like that -- The art and science of mildew control -- Nature strikes back -- It's all out war -- From vine to glass -- The odyssey in a bottle -- Looking forward -- Truce. If I'd only known then what I know now -- The origin of our affection and its peculiar afflictions -- It's personal: man versus fungus -- Revenge of the fungi -- If it's not one thing, it's another -- Some things get better with age -- The winegrower's challenge -- Going organic, or something like that -- The art and science of mildew control -- Nature strikes back -- It's all out war -- From vine to glass -- The odyssey in a bottle -- Looking forward -- Truce.