Cabernet Sauvignon and
Grenache. The original aim was to breed a variety for Languedoc that has the delicacy as Cabernet and is as heat-resistant as Grenache.
The grape received its name from the local town Marseillan on the coast of the Mediterranean.
It has now stretched its territory far beyond Southern France to many wine regions in the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the US. But it is China where Marselan is most largely planted outside France.
Journey into China
Marselan planted in China.
The grape was first introduced to Chinese vineyards in 2001, along with 15 other French grape varieties to Domaine Franco Chinois, a winemaking collaboration initiated by the two governments, in the Huailai region in Hebei.