Is Franc the best Cabernet?

Cabernet franc is largely overshadowed by its more well known cousin Cabernet Sauvignon. However Cabernet Franc is widespread in France, the cooler regions of Europe and in most wine producing countries.

Some synonyms for this variety are Bouchet, Breton bordo.

Cabernet Franc

The most common use for Cabernet Franc is as a blending partner, often minor, in so called Bordeaux blends. These wines are made from blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc varieties, often with one or more of the less common Bordeaux varieties Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.

The second use for the variety is as a varietal wine. In most countries this means that wine has to be made from at least 85% Cabernet Franc.

The Difference between Franc and Sauvignon

As their names suggest these two wine grape varieties are related. Cabernet Franc is the older variety, Cabernet Sauvignon seems is its offspring.

It is highly likely that the variety originated in Spain, rather than Bordeaux, perhaps as long ago as the 11th Century.

Cabernet Franc ripens a little earlier and hence can be successful in slightly cooler areas than Cabernet Sauvignon. The Loire Valley and North Eastern Italy, both strongholds of the variety are cooler than Bordeaux.

Cabernet Franc wines tend to be softer than Cabernet Sauvignon. They have more fruit flavours, especially raspberries and thus are more likely to be given less oak treatment.

How Many Cabernets are there?

I consider it to be when used as a straight varietal

Cabernet Franc in France

A bunch of Cabernet Franc grapes at Paradise Rescued Vineyard in Bordeaux. Click for details of Paradise Rescued

The variety is best known for its use in Bordeaux as a blending partner.

Less well known is Cabernet Franc's role in varietal wines in France, particularly in the Loire Valley appellations of Bourgueil, Chinon and Saumur*. It is also used component of the rose Appellation Cabernet d'Anjou in the middle Loire region.

*This Wine Map of France will get you up to speed about French wine regions

Cabernet Franc in Australia

The variety is used in a similar way to its use in France, mainly as a blending variety, but quite a significant number of Australian wineries are using Cabernet Franc as a straight varietal.

Is it an alternative variety? This is controversial. It's use as a blending partner is certainly not, but there is an argument that the use of the variety to make varietals is alternative.

Australian Varietal CABERNET FRANC

All of theses wineries have made a varietal Cabernet Franc at some stage.  Many make it every year .

• All Saints Estate Rutherglen
• Artwine Clare Valley
• Bests Grampians
• Bigibila Pyrenees
• Bleasdale Langhorne Creek
• Boreelane Wines Orange
• Bulong Estate Yarra Valley
• Byrne and Smith McLaren Vale
• Cape Grace Wines Margaret River
• Chalk Hill Winery McLaren Vale
• Cofield Wines Rutherglen
• Crawford Rver Henty
• Dodgy Brothers McLaren Vale
• Drakesbrook Wines Peel
• Frankland Estate Frankland River
• Gracebrook Vineyards King Valley
• Grassy Point Coatsworth Wines Geelong
• Happs Margaret River
• Harcourt Valley Bendigo
• Hastwell and Lightfoot McLaren Vale
• Hay Shed Hill Wines Margaret River
• Hemera Estate Barossa Valley
• Howard Vineyard Adelaide Hills
• Jamsheed Yarra Valley
• Jarvis Estate Margaret River
• Jenke Vineyards Barossa Valley
• Koerner Wines Clare Valley
• Leconfield Coonawarra
• Louee Wines Mudgee
• Montefalco Vineyard Porongurup
• Moombaki Wines Denmark
• Paracombe Wines Adelaide Hills
• Pepper Tree Wines Hunter Valley
• Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley
• Pyren Vineyard Pyrenees
• Redgate Margaret River
• Rising Yarra Valley
• Rochford Wines Yarra Valley
• Rose Creek Estate Sunbury
• Ross Hill Wines Orange
• Sally's Paddock Pyrenees
• Silverstream Wines Denmark
• Squitchy Lane Wines Yarra Valley
• St Leonards Rutherglen
• Steels Creek Estate Yarra Valley
• Surveyor's Hill Winery Canberra
• Swooping Magpie Margaret River
• Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes
• Tallagandra Hill Canberra
• Tamburlaine Hunter Valley
• Ten Chains Pemberton
• The Islander Estate Vineyards Kangaroo Island
• The Stoke Kangaroo Island
• Three Deops Mount Barker
• Tomfoolery Barossa Valley
• Vasarelli McLaren Vale
• Way Wood Wines McLaren Vale
• Wild Dog Gippsland
• Wines of Merritt Margaret River
• Woodgate Wines Manjimup

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The personality of Cabernet franc

Does this variety have a personality?

My friend the Winebird certainly thinks so!

You can find more about the personalities of wine varieites by visiting the Winebird Website.

Cabernet Franc and food

Varietal Cabernet Franc wines are often un-oaked and so they go with foods with herbal flavours rather than rich meats, veal or poultry rather than beef or wild boar for example. In springtime you might serve a Cabernet Franc with an asparagus quiche as an entree.

In his book Daring Pairings Evan Goldstein suggests that this variety goes well with goats cheese.

Maybe you could add a food suggestion via the comments box below...