Hungarian winemaker Viktor Keszler had to rip out young vines after only three harvests -- when they should last at least 25 years -- after they were infected by flavescence doree disease that is threatening Europe's wine regions.

"We spray our vineyard to protect it, but it is futile: the leafhoppers carrying the disease move to untreated vineyards or wild vines nearby and return infected," the 45-year-old told AFP.

Hungary, the world's 14th-largest wine producer, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), is renowned for such regions as the UNESCO-recognised Tokaj.

Flavescence doree (FD) is "one of the most dangerous diseases" threatening vineyards today, according to OIV.

FD is transmitted primarily by the American grapevine leafhopper insect, a pest that ha

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