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When I was a teenager,
the world was under threat of nuclear annihilation as the Cold War was in full
force and atomic bombs were being stockpiled by all the major powers in the
world. Life Magazine published an article about Mendoza, Argentina. The
magazine declared Mendoza to be the city most likely to survive a global nuclear war.
My buddy Randy and I
went to Mendoza when we visited Argentina in November 2012.
We did not go to
Mendoza because we were afraid of a nuclear holocaust. We went there
because it was in a desert, near the Andes, and the center of Argentina’s
thriving wine industry, where the vineyards are irrigated by water from the Andes.
Naturally we went on a winery tour while we were in Mendoza.
Naturally we went on a winery tour while we were in Mendoza.
Each winery we visited
mentioned that they used American oak
for their barrels. They mentioned that their vines grew on an American
base. I couldn’t help being an obnoxious tourist by pulling the
winemakers aside and pointing out that those American oak barrels were really
Missouri oak barrels. And I pointed out that
their American-based vines really grew on a Missouri base.
The French wine
industry was in trouble in 1870 when an aphid started destroying roots and killing off vines. Wine production fell off so much that some
desperate French people actually switched to drinking whiskey.
Missouri to the
rescue! In 1870, it was the largest US wine producing state. The state entomologist of Missouri took an interest
in the French blight. Yes, we have a state entomologist – today you can
reach his office by phone at (573) 751-5505.
The entomologist in
1870 knew that Missouri vine roots were immune to this aphid, and he suggested
that the French graft their vines onto Missouri roots. This suggestion did not go over big with
French pride.
But the French had no alternative. In 1872, Missouri sent 750,000 cuttings to France. The wine industry stablized. In the 1880's, Argentina started its wine industry, importing vines (with Missouri roots) from France.
There I was in Mendoza, pointing out to the Argentines that Missouri was the place from which the world wine industry rose again.
The Argentines were too polite to point out to me that, in case of nuclear holocaust, Mendoza is the place from which world civilization will rise again.
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ARGENTINA = TANGO. Here is a YouTube video shot in the main shopping street of Mendoza (3 minutes):
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NOTE: Doug's best stories have been collected into a book: Puppy Out Of Breath. Price = $11. You can purchase a copy at http://www.puppyoutofbreath.com
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