Term (Greek apoplex = stroke, med. stroke) for sudden events with loss of consciousness or partial paralysis. In viticulture, it is also used to describe the poor condition of a vineyard with the complete death of vines. The diseased vines gradually stop growing, the necrotised leaves turn yellow and wither, and productivity comes to a partial and then complete standstill. Apoplexy is sometimes also referred to as an acute form of the wood disease Esca.

Strictly speaking, however, this condition is not a specific disease, but the final symptom or extreme effect of various vine diseases. The causes are, for example, water stress (lack of water), extreme lack of nutrients, frost damage, fungal diseases such as Esca, eutypiosis or other various wood diseases such as Rugose Wood Complex. In wine, this can manifest itself as UTA (atypical ageing tone). See also a complete list of all diseases and pests in the vineyard under vine enemies.
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien