Scientific research suggests that new grape varieties need to be created in order to secure the future of Bordeaux and other winemaking areas.

Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a study by researchers at Cornell University in the US found that all the popular grape varieties, such as the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon used in Bordeaux, were developed from one species.

The vitis vinifera vinifera was "domesticated" somewhere near Turkey around 5,000 years ago, the research suggests.

Yet as all grapes come from this species, they carry the same genetic genome and are thus "sitting ducks for pathogens", according to lead author Dr Sean Myles.

With the European Union looking to reduce the amount of chemicals used to protect "non-essential" crops, Dr Myles insists that new grape varieties must been designed to offer more resistance to disease.

"We can't just go on using the same cultivars for the next thousand years," he said.

Michel Rolland's export manager Pascal Fricard recently suggested that Bordeaux vineyards should allow the use of non-native grapes to increase variety and help smaller growers from the region to compete in the market.