Ancient Seed Suggests Pinot Noir Stayed Stable for Centuries

A study of ancient grape seeds suggests that one of today's famous wine grapes has remained remarkably stable for centuries. Researchers examined seeds from archaeological sites in France and Spain, covering a period from the Bronze Age to the late Middle Ages, to track how grape growing changed over time.

After sequencing DNA from 49 seeds, the team noticed a shift. The oldest samples came from wild grapes, but from around 500 B.C.E. onward, some seeds began to share very similar genetics. The pattern fits clonal propagation, in which growers take cuttings from a plant they value instead of starting again from wild stock.

The most striking example was a 15th-century seed found in the toilet of a medieval hospital in France. According to the study, it was genetically identical to modern pinot noir. Researchers cannot yet say whether the grapes were eaten or turned into wine, but the result suggests that vintners preserved a successful variety with unusual consistency.