Uncover the legacy of Cabernet Sauvignon, from its humble roots in Bordeaux to its rise in New World vineyards. Discover its flavors, best pairings, and why it’s crowned as the King of Wines.

If you’ve had Cabernet Sauvignon before, raise your hand. The thing is, I don’t need to look at you to guess how many hands are up in the air. It’ll be most of you. Now keep it up if you like it! Yeah, I see you. The thing is, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular wine in the world[i]. And if you haven’t tried it yet, keep reading. I might convince you.

History of Cabernet Sauvignon: The King of Wines

King of wines? I mean, if we’re having a coronation, we need a good origin story, no? I got you.

Cabernet Sauvignon was born in Bordeaux long before grapes were ranked by “nobility.” Its parents? Not your usual suspects. Can you guess? Hint: it’s in the name! Turns out, Cabernet Sauvignon appeared in the wild from a naturally occurring cross between—you guessed it—Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc[ii]. The workhorse red needed the aromatic white to mellow out. Thus, our hero has a humble origin!

Cabernet Sauvignon is resilient. It grows easily, for wine grapes standards. The fruit has a thick, protective skin, and it blooms late, bypassing most issues the plant might have with spring frosts. That’s right, we’re looking at a survivor here.

Oh, and our king’s a colonizer. When French vines were exported to New World wine producing areas[iii], Cabernet Sauvignon took easily to the new regions, wielding its green leaf as a banner.

A savage[iv] bastard, a charismatic fighter, a world traveler, and a resilient conqueror. Long live Cabernet Sauvignon. Long live the King.

Wait … Who Died and Made Cabernet Sauvignon King?

Let’s face it, this crowning is just a popularity contest—aren’t they all? Sure, Cabernet Sauvignon is resilient and easy to grow, but winemakers would’ve quicky abandoned it if people weren’t drinking it, and a lot of people are. People like, well, you. Yes, you. You did keep your hand up when I asked if you liked it, didn’t you? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

It’s a well-liked varietal, but also the foundation of a lot of excellent blends. It can make an expensive bottle, but you can also score affordable entry level ones. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are popular wherever they’re bottled. Maybe there’s something to that crowning after all.

Blended or on its own, Cabernet Sauvignon has helped put wine regions on the map. What would Bordeaux be without it? And beyond the Old World—what would Napa or Chile? French vines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, made their way to the Americas[v] in the 19th century, where they took root with ease.

The Judgement of Paris

In 1976, a Napa Valley Cab stunned judges at a blind tasting in Paris[vi], showing New World wines could compete on the global stage. This caught Chile’s attention, and in the 1990s, a collaboration between renowned winemakers from both countries produced a Bordeaux-style blend that embraced Old World sophistication with a New World flair. In 2004, this Chilean blend triumphed in a Berlin blind tasting, beating out established French and Italian wines and solidifying Chile’s place among top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon producers.

Top Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

I finished writing this article in late October, 2024, and just about a month after Wine Spectator crowned (see what I did there?) Don Melchor, a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon as the N°1 wine in their Top 100 Wines of 2024 list. And I get it, Wine Spectator tends to be a little vanilla with their lists, and Don Melchor is quite expensive at US$ 180 a bottle. But, hey, I’m still happy a Chilean wine tops the list, and it being a Cab couldn’t have come at a better time, before me publishing the article! Congrats to Don Melchor and the winemakers behind this smooth wine.

Are you ready to uncork a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon?

The Last Drop

In Chile, Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in many valleys, but Maipo (the Alto Maipo subregion[vii] is particularly good, and you should look for it in the label!) is the famous one. You can also find great ones in coastal Aconcagua valley, as well as in Cachapoal and Colchagua, both south of Maipo.

So, you uncork a Cabernet Sauvignon, pour it in your glass, swirl it around a bit and take a whiff. You might find a bouquet of black fruits, spices, tobacco and other smoky aromas. In some you might also spot a whiff of green bell peppers. Fruit jam is something you can expect in Chilean Cabs.

Cabernet Sauvignon has high tannins, a full body, and notes of dark fruits and spices. Pair it with aged or blue cheeses, hearty stews, grilled meats, or burgers. This is your sweater-weather wine, the one for a cozy campfire singalong—and believe me, it’ll make you want to sing.

Let me know below if you like Cabernet Sauvignon, and if you would crown it as King of Wines. Me? I like Cabernet Sauvignon. My hand would’ve been high up in the air, right there next to yours. In my opinion, the popularity of this wine is justified.

However, I must admit it’s not my favorite red. I prefer lighter reds, like Pinot Noir or Cinsault. If the occasion calls for a bolder wine, I’d likely go for a Syrah. Even in Bordeaux I would choose a Merlot-based blend, or a Chianti Classico elsewhere in the Old World. But that’s me. You do you! I will happily share a bottle with you if it’s your favorite, and even help you crown the rightful King of Wines!

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Footnotes

[i] I’m not making this up! The folks at Decantalo have the numbers to back it up.

[ii] This spontaneous crossing is believed to have occurred in the 17th century.

[iii] I recently wrote about the history of wine in Chile. Follow this link to find out how the New World turned to France to boost its wine industry.

[iv] It’s not a coincidence that savage and Sauvignon sound similar. They both have the same linguistic root to mean “wild”.

[v] They also got to Italy in the 1800s. First to the Piedmont region, and eventually to Tuscany, where Sassicaia, a world-famous blend made primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon.

[vi] The event is informally known as The Judgement of Paris. It was organized to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Independence, and it pitted Napa Cabernet Sauvignons against some Bordeaux blends in a blind tasting competition.

[vii] Alto Maipo doesn’t officially exist as a wine region, but winemakers still use it to talk about vineyards climbing the slopes of the Andes. Don Melchor comes from grapes grown in this region, although in the bottle you will find the name Puente Alto, the subregion where the winery is located.

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Cover Image: A toast with Cabernet Sauvignon. Cheers! Photo by Kelsey Knight.