Maréchal Foch
An early-ripening French-American red from 1911 that makes dark, smoky, earthy wines. It's a cool-climate staple from Michigan and New York to Minnesota and Ontario.
Maréchal Foch, usually just called Foch, is one of the oldest and most widely planted French-American hybrid reds in North America. Eugène Kuhlmann bred it in Alsace in 1911 and named it for Ferdinand Foch, the French marshal of the First World War. It ripens very early and survives winters to about -25°F. Those two traits have made it a mainstay anywhere the growing season is short.
What It Tastes Like
Foch makes inky, purple wines with black cherry, plum and blueberry fruit, plus a distinctive savory streak of smoke, earth and sometimes a gamey or herbal edge. Tannins are soft, so winemakers have a few ways to handle it. Some make it like Beaujolais, using whole-cluster fermentation for a juicy, fruity wine to drink young. Others age old-vine Foch in oak for something deeper and more serious.
Where It Grows
Foch is planted throughout Michigan, New York (especially the Hudson River Region), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia. In Michigan it's a common sight in the Leelanau Peninsula and Tip of the Mitt, often alongside its sibling Léon Millot.
What to Look For
- Old-vine Foch is worth seeking out for its depth and earthiness.
- Nouveau-style Foch, made with carbonic maceration, is bright, fruity and good slightly chilled.
- Rosé and port-style wines also show up regularly.
Worth Knowing
Foch's small berries mean a lot of skin for the amount of juice, which explains its deep color. Many wineries blend a little into lighter reds just for that color.
Where to Find Maréchal Foch
Wine regions on American Winery Guide where Maréchal Foch is grown or poured: