Marselan

The red grape variety (breeding No. INRA 1810-68) is a new breed between Cabernet Sauvignon x Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta). The crossing took place in 1961 in France by Paul Truel (1924-2014) on behalf of the INRA. The variety was first cultivated in Marseillan (Department Hérault, Languedoc), from which the name is derived. The medium-late ripening vine is resistant to downy mildew, botrytis, and shatter as well as heat. It produces dark-colored, full-bodied red wines with soft tannins and aging potential. It is also suitable as a table grape. The variety is grown in France in Languedoc and along the Rhône and occupies 3,662 hectares. Further stocks exist in Bulgaria, Romania (11 ha), Switzerland (2 ha), Serbia (84 ha), Spain (1 ha), Hungary (2 ha), as well as overseas in Argentina (10 ha), Brazil (23 ha), Chile (24 ha), China, South Africa (3 ha), Uruguay (120 ha), and the USA. In 2016, a total of 3,941 hectares of vineyard area were recorded. The variety ranks 132nd in the global grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson). Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012. Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI).