Cabernet Franc is finally getting its due! Uncover the captivating story and distinctive characteristics of this rising star in the wine world, from origins to pairings.

Cabernet Franc, once better known as a workhorse in Bordeaux blends, has slowly made its way into the spotlight as a standalone varietal, finding long due and well-deserved recognition.

I have limited experience tasting it outside of blends, but my curiosity for Cabernet Franc is recent and it’s growing. It would be fair to say that Chile is a late adopter in the Cab Franc scene, considering that old vine Carignan and traditional and rustic País became fashionable years prior. It’s finally time to put some respect to the name! Let’s take a dive into Cabernet Franc’s history, profile, and pairing recommendations, both with food and emotions. Buckle up!

The History of Cabernet Franc

It’s difficult to trace ancient grapes to their origins, as we don’t have written records mentioning them. However, experts believe that Cab Franc originated in Basque lands at the southwest of France. Some scholars even believe it has a Roman origin, which wouldn’t be surprising given their love for wine and traveling with vines to conquered territories.

If we only go by written records, then we know that Cabernet Franc already existed in the 17^th Century in the right bank of the Bordeaux Region. And we know this because we have a document by Cardinal Richelieu[i] requesting some vine cuttings of Cabernet Franc so he could transport them to Loire. By the 18^th Century, it was a well-established grape in Bordeaux. Back then, winemakers used Cabernet Franc as the predominant grape in their blends.

Cabernet Franc also found a welcoming home in the Loire Valley. There it thrived, and winemakers have been using it to make accessible wines for centuries! This early-ripening grape is great for the Loire’s colder weather, as it’s harvested before autumn frosts.

So, Cab Franc was popular in Bordeaux and Loire, but this restless varietal wasn’t just going to stay still.

Exploring The Travels of Cabernet Franc

Spain and France share an area under a common cultural identity: the Basque country. Therefore, it’s not hard to imagine Cabernet Franc traveled easily and early to Spain. I’m saying it probably happened before this, but we know that it’s very likely that pilgrims carried it with them on their way to Santiago de Compostela[ii]. However, it’s plausible that Basque merchants or wayfarers carried cuttings[iii] with them as they moved around their country before the pilgrims.

Tuscan winemakers use it prominently in their Super Tuscan blends. How did this varietal get to Italy, though? Earlier mentions suggest it might’ve been a gift from France in the 16^th Century, for the marriage of King Henri II to Caterina de’ Medici[iv]. With time, Cabernet Franc settled in the Friuli region in northern Italy, where it found a suitable terroir.

In the 19^th Century, wealthy winemakers in the Americas turned to France for vines and expertise in an effort to revitalize and grow their industries. Cabernet Franc, along with other Bordeaux varietals, traveled to the California and Chile. Later, in the turn of the 20^th Century, winegrowers planted Cabernet Franc in Argentina.

Bordeaux Vines, I Am Your Father

It’s great that Cabernet Franc is getting recognized by drinkers worldwide. But even without that, its legacy was already guaranteed. See, Cabernet Franc is a parent to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. And, I mean, where would the world of wine be without those three varietals?

Carménère is, of course, important to the history of wine in Chile. It was confused with Merlot by early producers and thought to be extinct after phylloxera. In 1994, an expert ampelographer[v] discovered the mishap, and helped resurrect Carménère, which would go on to become the flagpole varietal of Chile. Cabernet Franc crossed with Gros Cabernet to produce it.

Merlot also originates from Bordeaux. What a prolific valley it turned out to be, huh? This time, as the natural cross between Cab Franc and Magdeleine Noir des Charentes. The specificity comes because there are other varietals that share the Magdeleine Noir name.

Cabernet Franc naturally cross-pollinated with Sauvignon Blanc and birthed Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux. Vintners were not very creative with names, but we forgive them because they started making great wines with all these half-siblings.

The Fall and Raise of Cabernet Franc

When we last saw our hero, it was lustfully cross-pollinating in Bordeaux. But his children, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, started gaining popularity and displacing Cabernet Franc from vineyards in the region.

First it was Cabernet the Younger in the left bank of the Gironde[vi] in the 19^th Century. Indeed, Cabernet Sauvignon adapted better to the land. Today it dominates the scene. Cabernet the Elder was relegated to the right bank of the estuary.

Cabernet Franc was doing great there until the second half of the 20^th Century, when Merlot became more fashionable, and again saw itself displaced. Cabernet Franc, however, has endured in the right bank, where it’s still prominently used in their blends[vii]. Vintners, on the other hand, rarely plant Cabernet Sauvignon on the right side of the Gironde.

Bordeaux winemakers have used Cabernet Franc as a blending wine, but this hasn’t been the case in the Loire. Remember, for the most part, Old World labels don’t mention varietals. So, when you see reds from Chinon or Bourgueil[viii], expect refined single variety Cab Francs.

What About Cabernet Franc in the New World?

Producers in California have traditionally used Cabernet Franc in blends. However, you can also find it as a single varietal. I want to single out the Sierra Foothills as an example of exceptional quality. Elsewhere in the US, the Finger Lakes in New York have embraced Cabernet Franc, and Virginia[ix] is quickly catching up.

In South America, Argentina was the first to embrace Cabernet Franc’s popularity. Winemakers in Mendoza were looking to diversify their offerings and move away from Malbec. Turns out, they found great success with Cabernet Franc, either using it in blends or producing it as a single varietal.

And what about Chile? Cabernet Franc is gaining popularity here too! It’s typically planted in Colchagua, a warmer valley that yields riper fruit. However, winemakers are currently planting Cabernet Franc in the slopes of the Andes[x] or closer to ocean breezes. We are currently getting more elegant examples of the varietal.

What to Expect from Your Cabernet Franc?

Expect red fruit aromas. Like Cabernet Sauvignon, its offspring, Cabernet Franc has vegetal notes. So, smelling herbs, grass, bell peppers, and even peas is not uncommon. The distinctive characteristic in the nose of Cab Franc, however, is graphite, like pencil shavings[xi], or gravel.

Cabernet Franc has medium tannins and high acidity, especially those from colder temperature. This combo gives them great aging potential.

What’s a good Cabernet Franc food pairing? It goes great with slightly acidic, hearty food, like tomato-based dishes. Think shakshuka or chicken parm. However, if you want my favorite food pairing for Cabernet Franc, that’s charcuterie!

Then again, you know I like to pair my wine with moments rather than food. Cabernet Franc is like listening to the charming, elegant vocals of Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill. It’s wearing elegant shoes that fit perfectly or experiencing the comforting crackle and pop of a campfire. It’s a wine to stretch over meaningful conversations with good friends after dinner.

The Last Drop

Cabernet Franc is like the subtle, slightly more elegant sibling[xii] of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s not as bold and has a lighter body, which might be a turn-off for some. I like that style of wines better, but to each its own.

However, like I mentioned above, I’m somewhat new to Cabernet Franc, and I feel there’s still a lot of it to discover. How about you? Have you tried this varietal before? Do you like it? Let me know down in the comments!

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Footnotes

[i] Armand Jean du Plessis was, arguably, the most powerful man in France during the reign of Louis XIII. You might know him better as the main antagonist in Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, but he was influential in the governance of France, paving the way to the absolutist monarchy of Louis XIV, The Sun King.

[ii] The Camino Frances connects Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the French Basque Pyrenees with Compostela. It remains one of the most popular routes for pilgrims.

[iii] Cabernet Franc cuttings, by the way, are what Cardinal Richelieu transported to the Bourgueil Abbey, in the Loire valley.

[iv] Yet another powerful and prominent figure in French politics and culture. Caterina de’ Medici was the great granddaughter of Lorenzo il Magnifico. When her husband passed, she is believed to have influenced the next three French Monarchs, her sons: Francis II (who died young of an ear infection and reigned only one year), Charles IX (who died of tuberculosis), and Henri III.

[v] A famous French specialist named Jean-Michel Bourisquot.

[vi] Although this is an obscene generalization, vineyards in the left bank produce blends with predominant use of Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas they prefer Merlot in the right bank.

[vii] A Little pop-culture trivia: the ’61 Cheval Blanc in Miles Raymon’s collection in the movie sideways, has more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in the blend. If you know the movie, you probably have thoughts on this fact. If you haven’t seen it, it’s good. You probably should watch it.

[viii] There are, of course, many more appellations making single varietal Cabernet Franc in Loire. The two above are probably the better-known ones.

[ix] Virginia is catching up to the Cab Franc trend, but not to wine. I’m writing this article on a 4^th of July, and it was in Virginia that wine production began in the US. Shout-out to Virginian wine producers!

[x] Maipo is a good example of this. Vineyards with high altitude have Cabernet Franc in their plots.

[xi] This aromatic reference might’ve aged me. Are people still sharpening pencils?

[xii] I know, not botanical sibling, but you get my point, I hope?

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Cover Image: Serving Cab Franc is a sign of a good time. Photo by Alina Skazka.