10,000-Year Evolution of Cultivated Grapevines in France Revealed

A recent study published in Scientific Reports has unveiled the 10,000-year evolution of cultivated grapevines in France, based on a morphometric analysis of 19,377 archaeological seeds. This research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team of 25 scientists across 17 laboratories, aims to shed light on how human interactions and environmental changes influenced French viticulture from prehistory to the 19th century.

The cultivation of grapevines, Vitis vinifera, began between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago in Western Asia, most likely in regions such as the Caucasus and the Levant. From there, grapevines spread to the Mediterranean and Europe through trade and cultural exchanges. Unlike annual crops, grapevine domestication depended largely on clonal propagation due to the plant's perennial nature and extended juvenile phase. This method helped establish and preserve specific traits over time, facilitated by somatic mutations and hybridization with wild populations.

Researchers used advanced Fourier transform methods and linear discrimination models to analyze the archaeological seeds, differentiating between the morphologies of wild and domesticated grapevine seeds. They categorized the seeds into four groups based on use and regional origin: eastern table grapes, Balkan wine grapes, Iberian wine grapes, and western European wine grapes. These classifications were validated against a modern database comprising 80 wild grapevine accessions and 466 cultivated ones.

The findings reveal a clear evolution from the use of wild grapevines to the widespread adoption of domesticated varieties around 600–500 B.C., a period that coincides with Mediterranean influences, such as the Greek colonization of Marseille. Before this era, most archaeological seeds exhibited wild characteristics similar to modern wild grapevines. During the Iron Age, however, seeds began showing traits associated with cultivated varieties, reflecting the introduction of domestic strains from the East.

The discovery of eastern table grape morphotypes in southern France during the Iron Age highlights that, besides wine production, grapevines were also cultivated for fresh fruit consumption, especially in Mediterranean urban centers. Seeds from this period suggest an early domestication process marked by genetic interactions between introduced grapevines and local wild populations. These interactions likely helped the grapevines adapt to various climate and environmental conditions.

Viticulture spread northward during the Roman era, driven by an intensive agricultural model focused on wine production and export. This expansion aligned with a warmer climate period known as the Roman Climatic Optimum, which allowed grapevines to grow in more continental and oceanic climates. During this time, western European wine grape varieties, characterized by small, compact clusters and acidic berries, became established in France's interior.

The Middle Ages marked another significant phase, with the growing dominance of western European wine varieties. Historical records and archaeological seed remains indicate that grapevines well-suited to local climates enabled the rise of inland wine regions like Burgundy and Champagne. A subsequent cooling after the Medieval Warm Period led to changes in viticultural practices and reduced the influence of eastern varieties.

Wild seed morphologies never fully disappeared. From the Roman era through the Middle Ages, some seeds retained intermediate forms, suggesting ongoing genetic exchanges between wild and cultivated grapevines. Experts believe that this genetic flow was crucial for developing new wine varieties and adapting to diverse environments.

The study also addresses how seed morphology is affected by archaeological preservation. Carbonized seeds tend to deform and resemble wild seeds, while water-preserved seeds retain their original characteristics better. To correct for these deformations, researchers applied correction vectors based on experimental studies.

This research provides a detailed view of the evolution of viticulture in France, illustrating how interactions between introduced varieties, local wild populations, and environmental factors have shaped the current diversity of grapevines. Such insights could prove valuable in addressing modern viticultural challenges, like climate change, and in conserving grapevine agrobiodiversity. The complex history of grapevine domestication remains a promising field for future archaeobotanical and genetic studies.