Ep 538: The Grape Mini-Series - Cabernet Franc Refresh

Wine for Normal People

The Cabernet Sauvignon refresh was episode 535, so I thought that on the heels of that it was time to do a refresh Cab Sauv's parents. This week is the Cabernet Franc refresh and next week will be Sauvignon Blanc, so you can have the full picture of the parents and the offspring.

Cabernet Franc is an underrated grape and things seem to be changing rapidly with it these days. In the past, it has often been used purely as a blending grape, except in the Loire Valley, but today it’s taking center stage. Producers and wine drinkers have realized that if the best wines of Château Cheval Blanc on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, have a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc, maybe there is something to this grape that should be explored.

Although Cab Franc still doesn’t have widespread popular acclaim, it is extremely important in the wine world. Today –it grows everywhere from France, Italy, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Hungary, Washington State, Croatia, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, Slovenia, Uruguay, and more. Plantings are growing and I see a bigger future for this grape.

In this show I cover:

• The origins and DNA of the grape
• Cab Franc in the vineyard
• Aromas and flavors
• Regions:
  • France: Loire, Bordeaux, Southwest France
  • Italy: Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Bolgheri
  • Hungary: Villány
  • Canada
  • United States: Finger Lakes, Long Island, Virginia, and a little bit on Napa, Sonoma, and Washington
  • South America: Argentina, Chile

I cover food pairings and serving temperatures too.

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