Scientists Identify 600-Year-Old Pinot Noir Seed in Medieval French Hospital

A team of scientists has discovered a 600-year-old grape seed in the remains of a medieval toilet at a hospital in Valenciennes, northern France. Genetic analysis revealed that the ancient seed is identical to the pinot noir grapes still used today to make one of the world’s most popular wines. The finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that this grape variety has been cultivated in France since at least the 1400s.

Researchers sequenced the genomes of 54 grape seeds found at archaeological sites across France, dating from the Bronze Age through the Middle Ages. The pinot noir seed from Valenciennes was among those analyzed. According to Laurent Bouby, a co-author of the study and researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Science of Montpellier, it is not possible to determine whether people in the 15th century ate these grapes as fruit or used them for winemaking. However, the discovery provides a direct genetic link between modern French viticulture and its medieval roots.

The study also highlights how grape growers have long used clonal propagation—preserving and replanting cuttings from specific vines—to maintain desirable grape varieties. While historical texts had suggested this practice, Bouby said that paleogenomics now offers concrete evidence that such techniques were in use as far back as the Iron Age, between 625 and 500 BC.

Ludovic Orlando, another co-author and paleogeneticist at the University of Toulouse, noted that this period coincided with significant events in French history. The Hundred Years’ War ended in the mid-1400s, and Joan of Arc lived during this era. Orlando remarked that it is possible people from that time, including Joan of Arc herself, could have eaten or drunk products made from these same grapes.

The research also traced the origins and spread of domesticated grapevines in France. The oldest seeds analyzed came from wild vines near Nimes dating to around 2,000 BC. Domesticated vines began appearing between 625 and 500 BC in southern France’s Var region, aligning with Greek colonization and the founding of Marseille. Archaeological evidence such as amphorae indicates that wine was traded by Greeks and Etruscans during this period.

Genetic data from Roman-era seeds showed that domesticated grape varieties were exchanged over long distances, with influences from Spain, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. There was also significant genetic mixing between domesticated grapes and local wild vines during Roman times, especially in northern France.

Pinot noir is now closely associated with Burgundy but is grown worldwide. According to the study, it is currently the fourth most widely cultivated grape variety globally. The researchers hope to collaborate with historians to further explore ancient texts describing viticultural techniques and deepen understanding of how these practices shaped modern winemaking.

The discovery underscores France’s long-standing relationship with wine and highlights how some traditions have endured for centuries. The use of toilets as rubbish bins in medieval hospitals helped preserve organic material like grape seeds, providing scientists with rare insights into agricultural history.