EPHEMERIDES: José Núñez Núñez Founder of the first American vine in Galicia and Castilla after the phylloxera nurseries
Born: 26 April 1858
He died: 27 May 1932
Best known in the village of O Barco as Don Pepito, a native of the village of Viloira, was a doctor who became famous by becoming fighter against phylloxera in Valdeorras.In 1891 they started to publish information on the appearance of this disease in the vines in the region of Valdeorras. The publication “El Eco de Ourense” (07/04/1981) explained “The Monterrey and Valdeorras Valley are mourning because it threatened misery…”.
In this situation there were people like José Núñez Núñez, doctor of profession and winemaker in the region that decided to move to Logroño to learn how to graft or select varieties according to the kind of terrain. Darío Fernández Crespo from the village of Vilela accompanied him on this educational journey.
Con esta formación volvió a Valdeorras y en sus terrenos en la localidad de Viloira creó los primeros viveros de vid americana que existieron en Galicia y Castilla. Al mismo tiempo empezó a escribir sobre la filoxera y los nuevos tipos de vides a usar para luchar contra ella, ganando varios premios. Uno de los primeros escritos fue el libreto publicado en 1897 titulado “Filoxera y viticultura moderna”.
With this formation he returned to Valdeorras and in its grounds in the village of Viloira created the first American vine nurseries that existed in Galicia and Castilla. At the same time he began to write about new types of vines and phylloxera to use to fight it, winning several awards. One of the earliest writings was published in 1897 libretto entitled “Filoxera y viticultura moderna”.
For his work to save the Agriculture of the region and of many other places, was named “Knight of the Order of Isabel la Catolica” a title that refused. He died in or boat on May 27, 1932 at the age of 75.
* Thanks to the members of the Valdeorras Studies Institute (IEV): Aurelio white Trincado (current President) and Ángel Fernández (former President and historian of the region) to be able to use your documents and texts.
** Documental Historical Photography: Courtesy of Gustavo Docampo Paradelo
