Among the lost viticultural treasures of Bordeaux, the Machouquet grape variety embodies a particularly poignant mystery. While 19th-century historical and ampelographic archives do attest to its existence, traces of this grape variety have unfortunately faded over time. At Château Cazebonne, our quest for forgotten varieties has led us down many paths, but that of Machouquet remains an unsolved enigma to this day: we have not yet managed to track it down.

Its disappearance

Machouquet is a striking example of those grape varieties that succumbed to successive vineyard crises, notably that of phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. At that time, many local varieties, often less productive or considered more fragile, were abandoned in favour of vines grafted onto American rootstocks, which were more resistant, but also more uniform. Machouquet, about which little is known regarding its ampelographic and oenological characteristics, is part of this long list of disappeared Bordeaux grape varieties, and its taste and aromatic potential remains unknown today.
Another highly probable hypothesis is that Machouquet is a local name for another grape variety. In this case, the grape variety itself would not have disappeared, only its name.

A grape variety cited in the 19th century, but difficult to say with certainty which variety it is

Machouquet is a grape variety whose existence is attested in 19th-century ampelographic works, notably by Comte Odart in his “Ampélographie universelle” (second edition, 1859), where he mentions its use in the Bordeaux region. However, the lack of precise data on its intrinsic characteristics and adaptability makes it difficult to identify. Is it a distinct grape variety that has completely disappeared, or is it a local synonym designating a variety better known under another name? Bordeaux ampelography is full of these mysteries, which bear witness to a viticultural biodiversity that was once far richer and more complex.

History and hypotheses

The history of Machouquet is intimately linked to the upheavals experienced by the Bordeaux vineyard. Before the phylloxera crisis, a wide diversity of grape varieties coexisted. However, as Jean-Baptiste Duquesne points out, phylloxera is « undoubtedly a ruthless gravedigger of diversity » (Source 6). Many grape varieties with a less uniform varietal mix than that of the plots subsequently rebuilt did not survive this period. It is highly likely that Machouquet, like other forgotten grape varieties, was marginalised and ultimately abandoned, lacking sufficient renown or distribution. The disappeared grape varieties of Bordeaux constitute an important part of our viticultural heritage, and Machouquet is an emblematic representative of this. It is also possible, as mentioned earlier, that the name « Machouquet » is a local synonym for a better-known variety, a common practice in pre-phylloxera ampelography. Bordeaux ampelography is precisely interested in these questions of grape variety identification and traceability.

The persistence of this enigma surrounding Machouquet highlights the fragility of ampelographic memory and the importance of research in fully understanding the history of the vineyard. Jean-Baptiste Duquesne's book, "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", offers valuable keys to grasping this complexity and the richness of the plantings of yesteryear. The quest for these lost grape varieties is essential for preserving viticultural genetic biodiversity and for adapting the vineyard to future challenges, notably climate change, inspiring our actions to revive other varieties such as Castets or Mancin.

At Château Cazebonne, our commitment to the richness and history of Bordeaux wines is demonstrated every day through the replanting of once-lost grape varieties. This work of memory and perseverance is an achievement we are proud to share, made possible thanks to the support of wine lovers who have adopted our wines. To discover the rich history of Bordeaux grape varieties, please feel free to download the digital version of Jean-Baptiste Duquesne's book « Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages » on our website, test your knowledge with our oenological quizzes, or explore our cuvées made from rediscovered grape varieties in our online shop.