Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

Grape seed found in medieval hospital toilet reveals 600-year pinot noir history

The DNA of a grape seed found in the latrines of a 15th-century hospital shows it is a Pinot Noir, reproduced identically to this day according to a study published on 24 March. AFP - SEBASTIEN BOZON

A 600-year-old grape seed discovered in the toilets of a medieval French hospital is genetically identical to the grapes still being used to make pinot noir wine, researchers have found.

The seed reveals that people in France have been cultivating the immensely popular variety of grape since at least the 1400s, scientists said in a new study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.