Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest known grape varieties that still shows traces of wild vines, from which it was presumably selected. However, its origins are unknown. The origin of Cabernet Franc is probably not in France, but in the Basque country in Spain, from where it came to the Bordelais and the Loire. Cabernet Franc is particularly well suited to poor soils and grows very vigorously, but requires very good sites due to its late ripening. Furthermore, compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, it produces lighter wines with aromas of raspberries and blackcurrants, paired with notes of paprika and green pepper. The grape variety is often used as a blending partner for classic Bordeaux wines. Single-varietal wines are rarer.