Why Gran Marselan™

In 2019, the Union of Bordeaux wines made a groundbreaking announcement: after testing over 50 heat- and disease-resistant grape varieties from various countries for the past decade, six were selected. Four red varietals were authorized to join Bordeaux's iconic "Holy Trinity" blend (mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot) for Bordeaux AOC and Bordeaux Supérieur. These four included Ekigaina/Egiodola/Arinarnoa (a local cross of Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon), Castets (a nearly extinct local grape), Touriga Nacional (from Portugal's Dao and Douro regions), and Marselan (a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache from Languedoc).

Exploring New Varietals in a Changing World

Since returning to France in 2020, at the beginning of COVID, to be with my 98-year-old mother in Paris, I had no desire to revisit the same old traditional French wines—“been there, done that.” Instead, with the help of a wonderful book, I began exploring rare, forgotten, and obscure indigenous red varietals (100 out of 200). My extensive search for grapes that could withstand the effects of climate change—heat, drought, and disease—caught my attention, especially these two offspring of the "King of Grapes" itself.

By 2021, I had managed to find only one bottle of Arinarnoa, and its flavor was underwhelming—“nothing great.” On the other hand, I had already discovered and tasted several 100% Marselan wines. It became clear where my focus should lie. At that time, there were only 160 hectares of Arinarnoa in France compared to 6,000 hectares of Marselan. I found 70 producers making 100% Marselan wines and reached out to them, organizing a full tasting with some of my wine geek friends. Of the 70, 60 responded, and in February 2022, we conducted the tasting.

However, the results were not as I had hoped. I was searching for an overall standout—one Marselan that could hold its own against top wines worldwide, blending the best characteristics of its noble parents: richness, texture, structure, and style. Afterward, I contacted each participant to share the results and explain my vision for the ideal French Marselan. Only one responded with the magic words: “If you want, I can help you.”

And so, Gran Marselan™ was born.

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