In the late 17th century, French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution brought vine cuttings to the Franschhoek Valley in South Africa. While the original French stock no longer survives in Europe, the transplanted vines thrive in the Cape. Over centuries, these vines were replanted, grafted, and selected, creating distinct local lineages that carry genetic traces of their French origins.

Although none of the original French cuttings remain intact, the relocation effectively preserved certain strains that were lost or eradicated in France. Today, these 'heritage' vineyards in Franschhoek maintain these heirloom varieties, making South Africa a living archive of historical vine genetics that would otherwise have disappeared entirely.