The Cabernet Franc
Grape
A red grape variety primarily found in Bordeaux blends alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Cabernet Franc produces wines with a lighter body, lower tannins, and higher acidity compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. It offers flavors of red fruits, bell peppers, and sometimes herbal notes, and can age well, developing more complex flavors.
Cabernet Franc
Grape History
Cabernet Franc is a versatile and widely planted red wine grape variety that has a rich history and a strong presence in the world of winemaking. The grape is believed to have originated in the Bordeaux region of France, dating back to the 17th century. It is considered one of the parent grapes of the famous Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Sauvignon Blanc.
Cabernet Franc is known for its distinctive flavors and aromas, which can include notes of raspberry, red currant, violets, and green bell pepper. It typically produces medium-bodied wines with moderate tannins and a vibrant acidity that makes it a great blending grape. In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is often used in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to add complexity and depth to the wine.
While Cabernet Franc has long been a prominent grape in Bordeaux, it has also found success in other wine regions around the world. In the Loire Valley in France, Cabernet Franc is the primary red grape variety, producing elegant and aromatic wines such as Chinon and Bourgueil. In Italy, Cabernet Franc is grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions, where it is used to produce high-quality wines.
In recent years, Cabernet Franc has gained popularity in New World wine regions such as California, Washington State, and South Africa. Winemakers around the world are increasingly recognizing the potential of Cabernet Franc as a standalone varietal wine, showcasing its unique characteristics and flavors.
Cabernet Franc is often used in Bordeaux-style blends, but it is also gaining recognition as a varietal wine in its own right. The wine is known for its versatility, pairing well with a wide range of foods, from grilled meats to vegetarian dishes. As consumers continue to explore new and exciting wine varieties, Cabernet Franc is likely to become even more popular in the years to come.
In conclusion, Cabernet Franc is a grape variety with a long and storied history, known for its distinctive flavors and aromas. With its growing presence in wine regions around the world and increasing recognition as a standalone varietal, Cabernet Franc is a grape variety that is poised to continue to make its mark on the world of wine.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel