(25 Mar 2026)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4647253
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burgundy, France – 12 September 2023
1. Various of man picking Pinot Noir grapes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toulouse, France – 21 March 2026
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Ludovic Orlando, Director, Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse: ++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 1 – 5++
“One of the big discoveries of this study was finding identity relationships in the vines which are biologically and genetically the same between the one that we call today the Pinot Noir and seeds we found preserved in sites from the fifteenth century in Valenciennes in the north of France. That means that in the fifteenth century, which is a century famous for the end of the 100 Years War and the death of Joan of Arc, we could, in theory, have seen her encounter the same grapes that are produced today, as long as we are talking about the Pinot Noir variety.”
3. Various of Pinot Noir vines
ASSOCIATED PRESS
No location given – No date given
4. STILL of Joan of Arc, patron saint of France (ID: 834734719750)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burgundy, France – 12 September 2023
5. Various of people picking grapes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toulouse, France – 22 March 2026
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Dave Elbaz, winemaker: ++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 5 – 8++
“For me it’s a grape variety that I particularly cherish, I like these varieties a lot, it’s wonderful. It’s a very fragile grape variety and that can explain its lack of evolution, but I would be very happy to read this scientific study.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burgundy, France – 12 September 2023
7. Various of workers sorting Pinot Noir grapes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toulouse, France – 21 March 2026
8. Various of Pinot Noir vines
STORYLINE:
Modern Pinot Noir grapes are genetically identical to the ones grown 600 years ago, according to a new study by scientists who analyzed the DNA of a French medieval sample.
In Burgundy’s vineyards, Pinot Noir grows in abundance. The grapes are at the heart of classic reds from this French wine producing region but also thrive in areas like California, Germany, Chile, New Zealand and cooler areas of Australia.
At a laboratory in Toulouse, France researchers have analyzed ancient grape seeds and found an identical genetic relationship with a sample from the 15th century.
Ludovic Orlando, a Director at the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, said the findings mean Joan of Arc, France’s now patron saint who fought in the Hundred Years War, could have drunk the same grape variety as 21st century consumers.
The findings show that the grapes must have been continuously cultivated for 600 years and improves understanding of the history of grape cultivation in France.
Dave Elbaz, a winemaker, told The Associated Press that Pinot Noir is a variety he cherishes. “I like these varieties a lot, it’s wonderful,” he said.
“It’s a very fragile grape variety and that can explain its lack of evolution, but I would be very happy to read this scientific study,” Mazan said.
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