Bordeaux, A History of Grape Varieties | Jean-Baptiste Duquesne

Bordeaux wine has built its worldwide reputation on five red grape varieties and three white grape varieties: Sauvignon, Sémillon, and Muscadelle for the whites - Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot for the reds. Contrary to popular belief, this history is a recent construction, resulting from the establishment of the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) starting in 1935, becoming effective after the frost of the winter of 1956, which destroyed nearly half of the vines in Gironde. Today, the system seems to be frozen around these AOCs. Attempts to reintroduce grape varieties remain timid. Yet the challenges facing winemakers are numerous: climate change, the rejection of pesticides, and a decline in consumption. This book traces the history of Bordeaux wine through the lens of these grape varieties. Throughout my research, I have compiled the most exhaustive inventory possible of the grape varieties that have existed in Bordeaux, a heritage that could prove valuable for preparing the future of the wines of our region. Jean-Baptiste Duquesne is a maverick shaking up the Bordeaux vineyards. A native of the region and founder of the famous recipe website 750g, he bought the Château Cazebonne wine estate in 2016. His goal: to make the Bordeaux vineyard attractive to consumers again through biodynamics and forgotten grape varieties.