The dangerous vine disease was already known to the Romans and Greeks in ancient times. The term Esca (Latin for tinder) refers to the tinder-like consistency of the wood in the late stages of the disease. The name is derived from the Greek "Yska," which means "decayed wood." It primarily occurs in warmer regions with a Mediterranean climate such as France, Italy, Portugal, and California. Since the 1990s, Esca has been spreading increasingly in northern wine-growing regions in connection with climate change.
The Petri disease is often referred to as identical or a precursor to Esca (Young Esca). Although both diseases are caused by the same or similar fungal species and exhibit some common symptoms, they differ in terms of manifestation and the age group of the vines affected.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi