Who is the Creator of Marselan™?

Paul Truel, the unsung hero behind the Marselan grape, was born 100 years ago in Paris in 1924. A student of the renowned ampelographer Pierre Galet at the University of Montpellier, Paul Truel dedicated his life to the study of grapevines. He spent his career at Domaine Vassal, the vineyard collection of INRA (Institut National de Recherche Agronomique), where he worked from 1954 until his retirement in 1985. He passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy in the world of viticulture.

A Lifetime of Viticultural Achievements

During his career, Paul Truel created more than a dozen grape varieties, including Caladoc (a cross between Grenache and Malbec) and Chasan (a cross between Chardonnay and Listan). However, his crowning achievement was the creation of Marselan, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon (the "King of Grapes") and the heat-resistant, flavorful Grenache.

Paul Truel was sought after internationally for his expertise in vine identification, traveling to Argentina (1970), Bulgaria (1974), Australia (1976 & 1982), and Portugal (1982), among other places. He also famously claimed (later proven by DNA analysis) that Durif and Petite Sirah were the same variety.

Special thanks to Jim Boyce at The Grape Wall of China, a renowned authority on Marselan, for contributing valuable insights to the information provided.

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