What to Know About Marselan™

Key Highlights of Marselan™

• Marselan is a blue-skinned, red wine grape.
• It was created by Professor Paul Truel in 1961 in Marseillan, where he was one of the world’s leading ampelographers (hence the name of the grape). Truel combined the structure and elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon with the disease resistance and rich flavors of Grenache to create Marselan.
• Grape Characteristics: Marselan grapes are small, leading to a higher proportion of skins in winemaking. It is a late-ripening grape that thrives in dry soils and hot, sunny climates. This makes Marselan a prime candidate to replace many varietals weakened by climate change. The result is wines with richer flavors, deeper colors, and more tannins, giving them excellent aging potential. Its natural disease resistance also makes it ideal for organic and sustainable viticulture. Marselan’s versatility allows it to adapt to various soils and climates, delivering a wide range of tastes and flavors. Hence, it's often referred to as the "Grape of the Future."
• Marselan in France: Despite its potential, Marselan is still primarily used in blends in France. In 2019, it became one of four new red grapes authorized for Bordeaux wines. Since 2020, Marselan can make up to 10% of Bordeaux Superior and Bordeaux AOC blends, though it cannot be listed on labels. As a result, blending it remains the norm for now.
• Languedoc's Lead: Languedoc was the first region to produce varietal Marselan wines, beginning in 2002. Since then, over 70 wineries have released 100% Marselan wines. After tasting over 60 of these, we found none that met our expectations—thus, Gran Marselan™ was born (see WHY for more).
• Global Spread: As climate change impacts vineyards worldwide, Marselan’s popularity has grown beyond France and China. It is now produced in over 25 countries (see WHERE for more details).
• World Marselan Day: Celebrated on April 27 each year, World Marselan Day was established by Jim Boyce at The Grape Wall of China to honor Marselan’s creator, Paul Truel, who was born on April 27, 1924.

Our 100% Gran Marselan™ commemorates his 100th birthday.

Special thanks to Jim Boyce, a global authority on Marselan, for his contributions to this information.

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