In recent months, Inra scientists -received state authorisation to grow four varieties of resistant grape called Araban, Floreal, Voltis and Vidoc which will lead to wine bottled by 2020.

Didier Merdinoglu, the "father" of the Inra program, insisted that the grapes enabled winemakers to cut the use of pesticides by 80-90 per cent.

France is under intense pressure to reduce pesticides, following a string of cancer cases among vintners and a recent scandal in which pupils at a school near a vineyard were sprayed with chemicals, leading to several falling ill.

Thomas Dormegnies, wine maker, researcher and taster from Vendée, western France, said that the crossover of varieties from other continents would lead to "artificial and unnatural 'Frankenstein wine'."