Marselan

Marselan carries the VIVC prime name Marselan, variety number 16383, with a black (noir) berry skin. VIVC records France as its country or region of origin, a single-source record, so France is its likely homeland. Its parents are Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache (Garnacha), a pedigree confirmed by markers. Its breeder was Paul Truel, with the breeder address INRAE Domaine de Vassal and Institut Agro Montpellier. In WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data, Garnacha Tintorera is listed as a half-sibling, and Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc as grandparents.

• VIVC prime name: Marselan; VIVC variety number 16383; berry skin colour black (noir)
• Country of origin: France (likely; single source)
• Parents: Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache (Garnacha), pedigree confirmed by markers
• Breeder: Paul Truel (INRAE Domaine de Vassal and Institut Agro Montpellier)
• Half-sibling: Garnacha Tintorera
• Grandparents: Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc

In 1956, the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) launched a programme of Vitis vinifera crosses aimed at high-yielding, disease and drought resistant, well-flavoured varieties. In 1961, while working at INRA in Montpellier, Paul Truel (1924-2014) created Marselan by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. It was named after the southern French coastal town of Marseillan, near Domaine de Vassal, INRA's research vineyard. Accounts of Truel's aim differ. Decanter says he set out to create the perfect grape for the Languedoc, marrying the structure of Cabernet with Grenache's heat resistance, while The Drinks Business gives the goal as combining the disease resistance of Cabernet Sauvignon with the yield potential of Grenache. Its small grapes led to low yields, so it was not immediately popular with Languedoc winemakers. Marselan failed to satisfy growers' desire for a naturally heavy-cropping variety, so they more or less ignored it for the next thirty years. Its first clone, 980, was released in 1990, and it was officially registered in 1991. Growth was slow at first but surged after INRA's patent expired in 2010.

• 1961: Paul Truel crosses Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache at INRA in Montpellier
• Named after Marseillan, near INRA's Domaine de Vassal research vineyard
• Small grapes and low yields slowed its early uptake
• First clone, 980, released in 1990; officially registered in 1991
• Plantings surged after INRA's patent expired in 2010

Researchers liked Marselan's disease resistance, especially to mildew. In Bordeaux, the Bordeaux appellation and Supérieur union says Marselan "follows a classic harvest date pattern for the Bordeaux vineyard" and is pretty good at resisting grey rot and mildew.

• Disease resistance, especially to mildew, valued by researchers
• Follows a classic harvest date pattern for the Bordeaux vineyard
• Pretty good at resisting grey rot and mildew

Marselan is medium to full-bodied, with black cherry, plum and cassis flavours and notes of violet, clove, cinnamon and black tea. It is approachable young, with bright fruit and soft tannins. Its small berries can make richly coloured, full-bodied wines with supple tannins. In a 2021 tasting, Elizabeth Gabay MW found styles ranging from fresh and fruity to big and intense, with good fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins in common. Most Marselan still goes into blends; in France, varietal Marselan appears under the Pays d'Oc IGP label. For food, Decanter suggests grilled lamb, roast duck, spiced stews and mature hard cheeses.

• Medium to full-bodied
• Black cherry, plum and cassis, with notes of violet, clove, cinnamon and black tea
• Approachable young, with bright fruit and soft tannins
• Small berries can give richly coloured wines with supple tannins
• Mostly blended; varietal French Marselan appears under the Pays d'Oc IGP label

Languedoc and southern France: Marselan found a natural home in the hot, dry Languedoc-Roussillon, and Languedoc producers focusing on quality over quantity are increasingly championing it. It was admitted in small quantities in the blend under the Côtes du Rhône appellation in 2011. In Bordeaux, Marselan is one of the red varieties approved for planting in Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC to give growers more options in adapting to climate change; these varieties are limited to 5% of the planted vineyard area and no more than 10% of the final blend. China: Marselan arrived in China in 2001, and its first Chinese vines were at Domaine Franco-Chinois in Huailai, Hebei province. It is now one of China's flagship varieties and has thrived in the country's diverse wine regions, from Ningxia's arid, high-altitude desert and the vast Xinjiang region to the humid coastal vineyards of Shandong. The Drinks Business reports that Marselan's thick skin and loose bunches make it more resistant to rot and powdery mildew than Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gao Chengjun of Great Wall Wine says it gives better yields, 10 tonnes per hectare compared with seven for Cabernet Sauvignon. Uruguay, Spain and beyond: Marselan is also grown in Uruguay, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, Turkey and Serbia, and more than 20 countries produce it. Uruguay's Bodegas Garzón makes one, and in Spain's Empordà, Josep Serra of La Vinyeta co-ferments Marselan with old-vine Grenache Gris for a wine called MigMig.

• Languedoc-Roussillon: a natural home, where quality-minded producers increasingly champion it
• Côtes du Rhône: admitted in small quantities in the blend in 2011
• Bordeaux: approved for Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur, capped at 5% of vineyard area and 10% of the blend
• China: planted in Hebei in 2001; now grown in Ningxia, Xinjiang and Shandong
• Uruguay: grown there, including at Bodegas Garzón
• Spain: La Vinyeta in Empordà co-ferments it with old-vine Grenache Gris

Sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=16383 ; https://www.bordeaux.com/en/mag/blog/how-bordeaux-is-adapting-to-climate-change/ ; https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/marselan ; https://www.decanter.com/decanter-world-wine-awards/marselan-day-10-wines-to-try-502502/ ; https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2021/06/under-the-radar-marselans-past-present-and-best-producers/ ; https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/12/shape-shifter-a-deep-dive-into-chinese-marselans-many-looks/ ; https://www.winespectator.com/articles/new-french-wine-grape-arrives-in-us-market-3645 ; https://www.decanter.com/learn/new-bordeaux-grapes-wines-420290/. Last verified 2026-10-17