🍇 Cabernet Franc
A red grape from France, a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon; the main red grape of the Loire Valley.
Cabernet Franc is a red grape from France, one of the most important in the world. It is a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon: that grape came from crossing Cabernet Franc with Sauvignon Blanc. It is also a parent of Merlot and Carménère, so it is seen as a "grandfather" of many red varieties.
Wines from Cabernet Franc are paler and lighter than those from Cabernet Sauvignon. They smell of red berries, pepper, violet and herbs, and their tannins are soft. It is the main grape in the reds of the Loire valley, such as Chinon and Saumur, where it gives fresh, fine wines. In Bordeaux it goes into blends, especially on the right bank, in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.
The grape also grows in Italy (Friuli, Bolgheri) and other countries. It is often added to rosé and red blends, and sometimes made as a single wine. It suits meat, poultry and cheeses. Cabernet Franc is a fine and underrated grape loved by connoisseurs.
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Cabernet Franc → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ French wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Bordeaux, 📜 Friuli, 📍 Libournais, 📍 Loire Valley, 📍 Anjou-Saumur, 📍 Touraine, 📍 Bolgheri, 📍 Pannonia, 📍 Villány
- Main grape in
- France: 📜 Haut-Médoc, 📜 Pauillac, 📜 Pomerol, 📜 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 📜 Margaux, 📜 Saint-Estèphe, 📜 Saint-Emilion, 📜 Saint-Julien, 📜 Bordeaux Supérieur, 📜 Bourgueil
and 43 more
📜 Fronsac, 📜 Lalande-de-Pomerol, 📜 Saumur, 📜 Anjou, 📜 Bourg / Côtes de Bourg, 📜 Cabernet d'Anjou, 📜 Chinon, 📜 Crémant de Loire, 📜 Côtes de Bordeaux, 📜 Rosé d'Anjou, 📜 Saumur-Champigny, 📍 Touraine, 📜 Bergerac, 📍 Bordeaux, 📍 Médoc, 📜 Anjou Villages, 📜 Buzet, 📜 Crémant de Bordeaux, 📜 Côtes de Duras, 📜 Irouléguy, 📜 Tursan, 📜 Brulhois, 📜 Canon-Fronsac, 📜 Corrèze, 📜 Côtes du Marmandais, 📜 Fronton, 📜 Haut-Poitou, 📜 Lussac-Saint-Émilion, 📜 Malepère, 📜 Montagne-Saint-Émilion, 📜 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, 📜 Anjou Brissac, 📜 Blaye, 📜 Béarn, 📜 Cabernet de Saumur, 📜 Coteaux du Quercy, 📜 Entraygues-Le Fel, 📜 Orléans-Cléry, 📜 Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, 📜 Pécharmant, 📜 Rosé de Loire, 📜 Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion, 📜 Saint-Sardos
Italy: 📜 Bolgheri Sassicaia, 📍 Bolgheri, 📜 Carmignano, 📜 Barco Reale di Carmignano, 📜 Montello Rosso, 📜 Atina, 📜 Curtefranca, 📜 Colli Euganei
Hungary: 📍 Szekszárd, 📍 Eger, 📍 Villány - Related to
- 🍷 Bordeaux blend
- Wines made from it
- 🍷 Rosé
- Offspring
- 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon, 🍇 Merlot, 🍇 Carménère, 🍇 Incrocio Manzoni 2.15, 🍇 Cabernet Moravia, 🍇 Bacchus Noir
Frequently asked questions
What is Cabernet Franc?
A red grape from France, a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carménère.
Where are the best Cabernet Franc wines made?
In the Loire valley (Chinon, Saumur) and in Bordeaux, especially on the right bank.
How does it differ from Cabernet Sauvignon?
The wines are paler and lighter, smelling of red berries and herbs, with soft tannins.
What to read next
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 📜 Haut-Médoc — The southern Médoc on the Gironde's left bank, home of many classified châteaux.
- 📍 Anjou-Saumur — Schist and tuffeau with Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and rosés.
- 🍷 Bordeaux blend — A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux varieties.
- 🍇 Incrocio Manzoni 2.15 — A red grape bred in Conegliano, Italy, from Cabernet Franc and Glera.
Similar
🍇 Merlot · 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon · 🍇 Malbec · 🍇 Petit Verdot · 🍇 Chenin Blanc · 🍇 Tannat