Ancient DNA reveals 4000 years of grapevine diversity, viticulture and clonal propagation in France

Wine production has deep historical roots in France, yet the biological foundations of early viticulture remain elusive. We report genome-wide ancient DNA data from 49 archaeological grape pips spanning ~4000 years, from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period, primarily focusing on France. Population genetic analyses reveal the genetic makeup of wild local grapevines in the Bronze Age and the early use of domesticated grapevines by ~625-500 BCE. Roman-era genomes reflect long-distance exchange from Iberian, Balkan, Levantine, and Caucasian domesticated varieties. Vegetative propagation, evidenced by genetically identical clones across sites and centuries, emerged by the mid-Iron Age and became a pillar of viticultural practice. Remarkably, one Medieval sample from Valenciennes is genetically identical to modern 'Pinot Noir', demonstrating clonal continuity over nearly 600 years. This study traces the introduction, integration and spread of diverse grapevine ancestries that have contributed to shape the varietal landscape of French viticulture.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-03-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70166-z
Primary Topic
Horticultural and Viticultural Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Ancient DNA reveals 4000 years of grapevine diversity, viticulture and clonal propagation in France

Nature Communications
Horticultural and Viticultural Research
article

Ancient DNA reveals 4000 years of grapevine diversity, viticulture and clonal propagation in France

article en

Abstract

Wine production has deep historical roots in France, yet the biological foundations of early viticulture remain elusive. We report genome-wide ancient DNA data from 49 archaeological grape pips spanning ~4000 years, from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period, primarily focusing on France. Population genetic analyses reveal the genetic makeup of wild local grapevines in the Bronze Age and the early use of domesticated grapevines by ~625-500 BCE. Roman-era genomes reflect long-distance exchange from Iberian, Balkan, Levantine, and Caucasian domesticated varieties. Vegetative propagation, evidenced by genetically identical clones across sites and centuries, emerged by the mid-Iron Age and became a pillar of viticultural practice. Remarkably, one Medieval sample from Valenciennes is genetically identical to modern 'Pinot Noir', demonstrating clonal continuity over nearly 600 years. This study traces the introduction, integration and spread of diverse grapevine ancestries that have contributed to shape the varietal landscape of French viticulture.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR), Université de Bordeaux (FR), École Pratique des Hautes Études (FR), Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR), Université de Montpellier (FR), Institut Agro Montpellier (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Archéologie et Histoire Ancienne : Méditerranée – Europe (FR), Hôpital Rothschild (FR), Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale (FR), Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier (FR), Archéologie des Amériques (FR), Ministère de la Culture (FR), Ipso Facto (France) (FR), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (FR), Archéologie et Archéométrie (FR), Amélioration Génétique et Adaptation des Plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales (FR), Archéozoologie et Archéobotanique (FR), Patrimonio Nacional (ES), Laboratoire Dynamique de la Biodiversité (FR), Institut Agro Montpelier (FR), Ministère de la Culture (DZ), UMR BIOdiversity, GEnes & Communities (FR), Cultures et Environnements. Préhistoire, Antiquité, Moyen Âge (FR), Archéologies et Sciences de l’Antiquité (FR), Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (FR), Centre Hospitalier de Valenciennes (FR), Universidad Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Exactas (DO), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
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