People everywhere expected the new millennium to bring surprises. But the particular shock and horror that rippled through the international viticulture community in 2000 was most unexpected. It had been found that sixteen of the most highly prized varieties of wine-making grapes were the products of mating between the classic Pinot and the classically undervalued Gouais grape. This blew the proverbial cork off the industry's bottle because the Gouais was considered such an inferior specimen that there were even attempts to ban its cultivation in France during the Middle Ages. This proves that humble origins can still produce superior quality. More.
