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🍇 Maréchal Foch

Also known as: Foch, Kuhlmann 188-2
Red Origin: Alsace, France

About Maréchal Foch

Maréchal Foch is a French hybrid created by Eugène Kuhlmann in 1911, named after the World War I French general Ferdinand Foch. A cross of Goldriesling and a Vitis riparia × Vitis rupestris hybrid, it was bred for cold resistance and disease tolerance. While largely abandoned in Europe, Maréchal Foch found a second home in Canada and the northern United States, where it thrives in climates too harsh for Vitis vinifera. The grape produces deeply coloured, fruity wines that can range from light and Beaujolais-like to more serious, oak-aged versions. Some producers use it for icewine, creating a rare red icewine style.

Wine Colour & Appearance

Typical colour: Deep purple-ruby

Ruby to deep purple

Colour Variations by Region

Niagara:
Québec:
Intensity Deep
Clarity Clear
Viscosity Medium

Wine Characteristics

Body
Medium
Tannin
Low medium
Acidity
Medium high
Sweetness
Dry

Aroma & Flavour Profile Le Nez du Vin Reference →

Aromas (Nose) [Le Nez aroma]

  • Cherry cherry#18
  • Blackberry blackberry#17
  • Plum
  • Earthy
  • Smoky smoky#07
  • Herbaceous

Flavours (Palate)

  • Dark cherry
  • Blackberry blackberry#17
  • Plum
  • Smoke
  • Earth
  • Spice

Old World vs New World

Understanding regional style differences helps identify origin in blind tasting.

🏰 Old World (Europe)

  • No longer commercially grown in France or Europe. The hybrid was created for cold resistance but European winemakers prefer vinifera varieties.